At the risk of going to Miami down 0-2, the New York Knicks delivered in a Game 2 111-105 win to tie the series at 1-1. It didn’t matter that the Heat were without Jimmy Butler, who rolled his ankle in Game 1. Caleb Martin (22 points), Gabe Vincent (21 points), and Max Strus (17) stepped up for Miami and nearly knocked off New York.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart rose to the occasion for the Knicks down the stretch, scoring 20 of New York’s final 24 points in the game. Brunson was listed as questionable ahead of the game with a sore right ankle and he was off in the first half of the game, but like he’s done so many times this season, he came through. Hart knocked down a couple of bigs shots himself and nearly finished with a triple-double, posting 14 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists in 33 minutes.
Josh Hart is the 1st Knick to record 10+ PTS, 10+ REB, and 9+ AST in a playoff game since Walt Frazier in 1972. pic.twitter.com/sAWMpfZfPw
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 3, 2023
Surely, Scott Foster was responsible for that, right? If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, that’s probably a good thing. After the game, Heat fans took a clip of Hart thanking Foster and spun it into something that it wasn’t. Yes, they were trying to say that the Scott Foster was on the Knicks’ side.
Did Hart say “Scott, appreciate ya”? 😭 https://t.co/kJZpXS2joL
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) May 3, 2023
Heat fans make up absurd Josh Hart-refs conspiracy theory after Knicks win
It didn’t take long for Josh Hart to open up Twitter and confirm that he thanks each official after every game.
Yup I did. Also told Curtis thanks and Mark thanks. I always thanks the refs after games https://t.co/GPQwAdyKfG
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) May 3, 2023
Those same Miami fans that were crying about Hart must’ve missed this clip of Gabe Vincent after the Heat’s win in Game 1 as well as the clip of Bam Adebayo’s highly suspect screens.
So Heat fans, does this mean that the refs rigged Game 1 for Miami?
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) May 3, 2023
Stop acting like players & refs can’t get along whatsoever. https://t.co/CDEJx3FOJ9 pic.twitter.com/wfNrvwJG8H
How convenient that Vincent thanking the refs after Sunday’s win didn’t fit the narrative for Heat fans.
In all honesty, officiating has been questionable in the league this season. Miami fans were understandably upset that the Heat were called for a shot clock violation with three minutes left in the game with the Knicks up, 99-96.
Heat had a shot clock violation with 3:05 left but replays showed it looked like the ball grazed rim.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 3, 2023
Max Strus: “Everybody knew it hit the rim, yeah. You can see it from our bench. It definitely hit the rim. But you win some, you lose some, I guess.” https://t.co/1wI4Kncd4q pic.twitter.com/AwL9DE94df
Mitchell Robinson was whistled for his fourth foul on what was a clean block in the second half. It wasn’t as pivotal as a call as the one above, but there isn’t a world where Scott Foster purposely sides with New York. He’s the enemy of many teams for a reason.
Heat fans did their “best” to make Hart look bad, but it was to no avail. Focus the criticism on the referees instead, who are the ones who missed that the ball grazed the rim, not Josh Hart.
2 Glaring defensive mistakes that nearly led Knicks to ugly playoff loss
Despite pulling out a victory in Game 2 against the Heat, the Knicks made a number of defensive mistakes that nearly cost them the win.