Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Jalen Brunson’s onslaught was too much for the Heat in New York

Surviving Jalen Brunson’s rampage is like a raft trying to stay afloat throughout a storm in the middle of open water, and the Heat were tipped over and lost in the waves. He had a season high of 47 points. 

New York was the hottest team in the East going into the game, and they buried 20 3-pointers, 10 coming in the corners. The Heat soiling themselves at the line also prevented any chance of a prosperous trip into Madison Square Garden. 

The season series is over, split at 2-2, and the Heat have gotten exposed in seven of their last eight outings. Yet the snowball effect started earlier, losing at home to the Cavaliers D-team on Nov. 12.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said that “you can’t leave anything to f-ing chances,” and said New York’s will to win is something the Heat are still trying to develop. 

Jalen Brunson filleted schemes, getting where he wanted, but the Heat’s desperation was palpable early and five of them combined for seven trifectas in the first quarter. Kel’el Ware’s movement through the lane on cuts also pushed them to a 37-30 lead. 

A drought had to happen to the visitors at some point, and it did in the second, yet they kept from bleeding out as Brunson pushed his output to 27 points, and Mikal Bridges made four 3-pointers. The Knicks took a four-point lead at halftime while scoring 11 points on the break and 22 in the lane. 

Then Ware made a pair of deep shots and scored from the dunks spot, plus Norman Powell discharged 19 third-quarter points on drive-bys and 3-pointers, keeping the crew within reaching distance. 

But the Heat started to fall apart in the fourth despite Ware and Powell being their biggest threats.  They didn’t get enough from Bam Adebayo, who never got in a rhythm with fewer touches, and the closest they got late was within two digits. Yet Brunson, Josh Hart and Bridges closed the curtain with free throws, a layup and a trey.  

They lost 132-125 after getting slaughtered in the half-court, and their transition attack was thwarted again. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was their only reserve to log a field goal in the second half. 

Spoelstra wasn’t interested in moral victories after the game, but there is one: Ware had 28 points on 73.3% shooting, with 19 rebounds, including six offensive. He is becoming one of the team’s top players, which should make organizing the starting lineup interesting going forward.