Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks Burn Miami Heat in 21-Point Comeback

Behind a gutsy effort from Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks earned a quantum of revenge against the Miami Heat and lingered in consideration to win their In-Season Tournament group.

Unlike their green gridiron counterparts, the New York Knicks knew how to handle a three-touchdown deficit against a team from South Beach. 

The Knicks refused to allow the Miami Heat to eliminate them from an NBA competition twice in six months, embarking on a dramatic fourth quarter comeback en route to a 100-98 victory at Madison Square Garden on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. New York trailed by as much as 21 points over the latter 24 but mustered a daring comeback paced by 24 points from Jalen Brunson. 

Friday's win afforded the Knicks (9-6) a smidgen of revenge against Miami, which ended New York's most successful season in a decade in six-game fashion in the Eastern Conference Semifinal round last spring. The Knicks also stayed in the race to win Group B of pool play in the Eastern Conference portion of the NBA In-Season Tournament. 

Elsewhere in the New York box score, Immanuel Quickley helped the Knicks inch back into the contest with 20 points in relief, most of that tally built with a 4-of-8 effort from three-point range. The last of RJ Barrett's 18 points completed the New York comeback, as his drive to the hoop created a successful and-one opportunity that gave the Knicks a lead that proved permanent. 

The Knicks' second win against a team with an active winning record (its first since Oct. 31 in Cleveland) did not come easy: Friday's hosts jumped out to a 10-1 lead but allowed the Heat to inch back into the game after Mitchell Robinson was charged with two early fouls over the first 4:32. Miami established a relatively consistent lead in the second period, with their advantage peaking at seven before the Knicks scored an unanswered eight over the final 2:51 of the half, a run capped off by Quentin Grimes' buzzer-beating three-pointer, his first points since missing two games with a wrist injury.

Jalen Brunson (11) drives against Jimmy Butler in Friday's win over Miami / USA TODAY SPORTS

But deja vu came for the Knicks in the worst way after harboring a 51-50 lead heading into the second half: flashbacks from both last spring and Monday's loss in Minnesota surfaced when the Heat scored the first 19 points in the third before going up by as much as 21. The 37 points the Knicks wound up allowing in the third quarter was the most they've let up in any single period so far this season.

A slow yet steady comeback effort tipped off with just about 10 minutes remaining: Miami led 90-71 before consecutive threes from Quickley and Donte DiVincenzo forced them into a timeout. The NBA's Replay Center even lent the Knicks a hand by changing a Josh Richardson triple into a double during the ensuing Heat timeout after DiVincenzo's deep ball, quickly slicing the lead to 12. 

Even with the early frenzy, the Heat seemed secure with another Richardson three, this one unabated and putting them up 96-87 with just under four minutes left. But physical paint penetration made up a 10-0 run that put the Knicks ahead for good, one partly punctuated by converted and-ones for both Brunson and Barrett. 

A jumper from Brunson finished things off and allowed the Knicks to keep the lead after Bam Adebayo responded with two of his own. One free throw, Brunson's final point of the night, created the eventual final margin. Barrett, Brunson, and Quickley each scored eight points in the fourth, accounting for all but five points in a 29-11 victory.

Miami (10-6) entered Friday's game as winners of nine of its prior 10 and in the driver's seat for the wild card entry into the East portion of the eight-team knockout round. Jimmy Butler led the team with 23 points but failed to hit a victorious triple just before time expired to save South Florida from embarrassment. 

Knicks Comeback vs. Heat Keeps In-Season Tournament Championship Dream Alive

Richardson's jumpers and Adebayo's run-interruption were the only field goals Miami converted in the last frame, going 3-of-21 overall during the final dozen. Adebayo and Butler were 1-of-11 alone and the Knicks only allowed four free throws. 

The Heat will be back in Manhattan on Jan. 27, the second of three meetings between the long-standing rivals this season.

On the Knicks' side, part two of a four-game homestand at MSG is no easier, as they face the red-hot Phoenix Suns on Sunday evening (6 p.m. ET, MSG).