5 Must-win games over the Miami Heat’s stretch run

Miami Heat v New York Knicks
Miami Heat v New York Knicks | Mitchell Leff/GettyImages
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April 2 vs New York Knicks

Jimmy Butler, Julius Randle
Miami Heat v New York Knicks | Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

Having lost the first two matchups against the Knicks, the Heat have already relinquished the tie-breaker, but revenge can also be a heck of a motivator.

After last year’s second-round series, the rivalry between these two franchises is thriving with new life and new characters. Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and New York’s crew of hard-nosed soldatis are among the toughest teams in the league. 

These games tend to be close and that should be the case in early April at home. The Miami crowd will feature plenty of New York implants as both teams vie for playoff positioning.

If the Heat go on a run between now and then, this game could have even more at stake as far as the standings are concerned.

Schedule