The Miami Heat visit the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 42-24 record, while the Heat have dropped to ninth at 29-38. Both teams are looking to turn things around after recent struggles.
The Knicks return home after a tough West Coast road trip, where they lost three of five games. The Heat have lost seven straight games and are 4-14 since trading Jimmy Butler in early February. Both teams need a win to improve their playoff positioning as the season nears its end.
Miami Heat Preview – Offense Struggles Without Butler
The Heat are 4-14 since trading Jimmy Butler and have seen their offense struggle. Tyler Herro leads the team with 23.6 points and 5.7 assists per game, but his supporting cast has been inconsistent. Bam Adebayo has been a reliable presence inside, scoring 18 points with six rebounds in their recent loss to Memphis.
Injuries are also impacting Miami. Andrew Wiggins is listed as day-to-day with a leg injury, and Nikola Jovic remains out with a hand injury. The Heat need strong performances from Herro and Adebayo to compete against a tough Knicks defense.
Miami’s defense has allowed over 100 points in seven straight games, including three losses by more than 20 points. Improving their defensive effort will be key against New York’s half-court offense.
New York Knicks Preview – Looking to Regain Momentum
The Knicks have managed to stay in third place despite missing star point guard Jalen Brunson. Without Brunson, their offense has dipped, averaging just 109 points over their last four games. Karl-Anthony Towns has stepped up, scoring 29 points with 12 rebounds in their loss to Golden State on Saturday.
Josh Hart continues to struggle offensively, going scoreless in his last game despite playing over 38 minutes. The Knicks have relied on their defense to keep games close, but their offense needs to improve without Brunson.
New York is 21-11 at home this season and will look to bounce back in front of their home crowd. The Knicks are favored by 7.5 points and will need contributions from Towns, Miles Bridges, and OG Anunoby to secure a win.
Betting Prediction
The Knicks enter as a -7.5 favorite with the total set at 212.5. Miami’s recent struggles and defensive issues make it hard to trust them, especially on the road. The Knicks’ defense should control the pace, and their size advantage inside gives them an edge.
With New York’s offense still adjusting without Brunson, points may be tough to come by. Expect a low-scoring game with the Knicks controlling the tempo and covering the spread.
Pick: Knicks -7.5 / Under 212.5
Trends to Watch
- Miami: The Heat have hit the 1H Moneyline in 26 of their last 44 away games.
- Miami: The Heat have lost seven straight games, with three losses by 20+ points.
- New York: The Knicks have hit the Game Total Over in 56 of their last 94 games.
- New York: The Knicks have covered the 2Q Spread in 35 of their last 59 games.
- Head-to-Head: The Knicks won the last meeting 116-112 on March 2.
What’s Next
The Knicks continue their playoff push while Miami looks to avoid sliding further in the standings. With Jalen Brunson still out, New York must continue to rely on strong defensive efforts to secure wins.
