Brunson with 30 to lead Knicks past Butler and the Heat 125-109

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On Saturday, Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to their sixth straight win with a score of 125-109 against the Miami Heat. Despite a strong performance by Jimmy Butler with 28 points, the Heat suffered their sixth consecutive loss. The Knicks have been on a roll since OG Anunoby joined the team and continued their winning streak, despite Julius Randle leaving the game with an injury. Randle contributed 19 points and nine rebounds before departing with 4:27 remaining in the game after appearing to injure his right shoulder while driving to the basket.

During a post-game interview, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that Randle was being evaluated by the team’s medical staff, but did not provide any further updates. With Randle’s status uncertain, Anunoby, who scored 19 points in the game, may be required to take on a larger role in the team. The Knicks have been in excellent form this month, with a record of 12-2 since Anunoby made his first start on New Year’s Day.

Brunson was the star of the game with 32 points and eight assists, helping the Knicks break it open in the fourth quarter with a 13-3 spurt. His 3-pointer midway through the period made it 112-96, sending the Heat into a timeout as the crowd roared. The Knicks shot an impressive 13 for 18 (72%) in the fourth quarter, while the Heat committed five turnovers that led to nine points.

Despite the return of Kevin Love from an illness, the Heat struggled to keep up with the Knicks. Coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged that the Heat needed to improve their competitiveness after being blown out 143-110 by the Boston Celtics in their previous game. While the Heat looked much more like themselves on Saturday, they fell short in the final quarter, with the Knicks outscoring them 36-23.

Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein returned to the game after missing two games with a left Achilles tendon injury, contributing four points and six rebounds. It remains to be seen whether Randle will be able to play in the Knicks’ next game, but the team will undoubtedly be hoping to continue their winning streak with or without him.