Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/2/2023

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Where to watch: MSG, BSSUN

DraftKings: Heat -1.5

FanDuel: Heat -1.5

BetMGM: Heat -1.5

Caesars: Heat -1.5

Heat: 29-23

Knicks: 27-25

Heat: won 100-97 at Cavs

Knicks: lost 128-123 (OT) vs. Lakers

The Miami Heat will try to win their fifth game in the last six games when they travel to Madison Square Garden on Thursday to take on the New York Knicks.

 

The Heat are continuing on a four-game road trip in which they’re coming off a 100-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Jimmy Butler led the way with 23 points, and Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each had 18 points for Miami, which held the high-octane Cleveland offense to just 97 points, and 18 in the fourth quarter. If your lucky number is 18, at least you’re in luck.

 

“When it gets to the last three or four minutes, because of the experiences we’ve had, guys feel comfortable enough to execute under that kind of pressure,” Heat coach Erik Spolestra said.

 

The Heat haven’t had a lot of fun as of late due to injuries and availability. Miami hasn’t covered in four of the last six games with the under cashing in five of the last six. Defense is going to be the calling card for Miami forever. But the fact they’ve won games like this and continue to look like a top team in the East is a scary thought for everyone else.

 

“We still had lapses, but I'm glad those lapses did not cost us the game,” Butler said. “We got stops down the stretch when we needed to.”

 

The Knicks are trying to avoid a three-game losing streak and are coming off a 129-123 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, suddenly closing back to .500 after what seemed like a promising January.

 

Jalen Brunson posted a season-high 37 points on 13 of 29 shooting, while making all nine free throws with six assists, and Julius Randle had 23 points and 12 rebounds despite shooting 6 of 19 from the floor. Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 points and 13 rebounds off the bench, and Immanuel Quickley had 19 points. But the Knicks shot just 7 of 34 from 3-point range but stayed in the game due to going 28 of 32 from the free-throw line.

 

“We’re scoring plenty, that’s not our issue,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So we’ve got to shore up our defense.”

 

The Knicks have lost six of their last eight total and have also failed to cover in six of the last eight. The only two covers were their two wins, outright upsets over Cleveland and in Boston last week. The over has also cashed in the last three games, which doesn’t help Thibodeau’s claim of wanting to play better defense. This is still a young team that has a long way to go.

 

The Heat have covered in five of the last six meetings in New York while the under has cashed in 17 of the last 22. That seems to be the best way to go for Miami, who has dominated on defense as of late with enough offense to get the job done. Heat 106, Knicks 99

Heat are 60-51 ATS on the road in the last 3 seasons.

Heat are 5-14 ATS after allowing 105 points or less last game this season.

Knicks are 18-23 ATS as a home underdog the last 3 seasons.

Knicks are 54-46 ATS after playing a home game the last 3 seasons.

PG: Kyle Lowry

SG: Tyler Herro

SF: Caleb Martin

PF: Jimmy Butler

C: Bam Adebayo

PG: Jalen Brunson

SG: Quentin Grimes

SF: RJ Barrett

PF: Julius Randle

C: Jericho Sims

Injury report

Heat: Gabe Vincent (ankle, questionable), Victor Oladipo (ankle, doubtful)

Knicks: Mitchell Robinson (thumb, out)

Points: Jimmy Butler -- 22.0

Rebounds: Bam Adebayo -- 10.0

Assists: Kyle Lowry -- 5.3

Points: Julius Randle -- 24.7

Rebounds: Julius Randle -- 10.9

Assists: Jalen Brunson -- 6.2