AT scored 15 straight points in the 3rd quarter, and had 23 overall. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.
The Knicks allowed the Heat to jump out to a 29-16 lead, then absolutely dominated them in a 116-95 blowout at Madison Square Garden on a Monday night.
NY outscored Miami 29-20 in the 2nd quarter, then blew them off the court in the 3rd, 41-15 — en route to the romp of a win.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 15 straight points at one point in the 2nd — not just for the Knicks — 15 straight points for either team — the most consecutive points a Knick scored in a game in the ‘play-by-play’ era, which began during the 1994-95 season when the NBA started tracking what happened on every play in a game.
Towns finished with 23 pts on 10-17 shooting (3-5 from 3) and a +16. Mikal Bridges had 28 pts on 10-14 shooting (4-6 from 3), and Mitchell Robinson dominated with 10 pts on 5-7 shooting with 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Robinson and KAT played together on the court in the 4th quarter and the result was a Dominant Knick team.
Josh Hart broke out of his recent shooting slump in a big way with 12 pts on 5-9 shooting (2-4 from 3), 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and a +31.
The game was also marked by famed comedian and Knick fan Tracy Morgan projectile vomiting onto the floor while sitting courtside — a mess that halted the game for 10 minutes while it was being cleaned up. Afterwards it was reported that food poisoning was the culprit — although some Miami fans on Twitter (X) expressed that it was probably because of Miami’s play.
“”I feel good. Finally getting a rhythm back a little bit,” said Mitchell Robinson afterwards.
NY improves to 43-24; Miami drops to 29-39 and losers of 8 in a row, and 4-15 after trading Jimmy Butler.
1. Miami Jumps Out to 29-16 Lead
Miami jumped out to a 12-0 lead on scores by Tyler Herro and Jamie Jaquez Jr, and then 3 straight buckets by Duncan Robinson including consecutive 3’s.
But the Knicks got tracked with Mikal Bridges hitting two 3’s sandwiching buckets by Miles McBride and Karl Anthony Towns and it was a 14-10 game, Miami.
Tyler Herro continued to get buckets for Miami — he had 12 points in the quarter — and Miami took a 29-16 lead before Mikal Bridges free throws at the end of the quarter made it 29-18 Miami after 1.
2. KAT Starts 2nd with 15 Straight Points
Kel’el Ware dunked off a Terry Rozier assist to start the 2nd quarter, and Miami was up 31-18.
And then it was Karl-Anthony Towns time. 15 Straight Points.
Towns:
Scored inside off a Cameron Payne assist,
Dunked off a Cam Payne assist,
Hit a 3 off a pass from Josh Hart,
Dunked off a pass from Josh Hart,
Hit a 3 off a Cam Payne assist, and
Hit Another 3 off a Josh Hart assist.
NY 33 Miami 31. Heat timeout.
KAT ON A 15-0 RUN 😳
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/h2rssKFpe0
— ESPN (@espn) March 18, 2025
Finally, Davion Mitchell scored for Miami on a floater to break KAT’s streak. Josh Hart scored the next Knick bucket — a drive inside off a pass from Towns.
The game went back and forth evenly throughout the rest of the quarter — Miami taking a 49-47 halftime lead.
3. Knicks Blow Out Miami in 3rd
And then came the 3rd quarter, and the Knick defense intensified, causing Miami to throw the ball away all over the place as the Knicks took command and blew them off the court.
Duncan Robinson led the quarter off with a 3, but then:
OG Anunoby hit a 3,
Deuce McBride hit a 3,
KAT scored inside and NY was up 55-52.
Mikal Bridges then went nuts with 9 straight Knick points — a 12-footer, 2 drives, and a 3 — and NY was up 64-54.
Mikal Bridges filling the lane and finishing for 11 PTS in the 3Q!
Knicks taking control early in the second half on ESPN 💪 pic.twitter.com/WGtYR2xjog
— NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2025
Mitchell Robinson entered the game and the Knick D went to another level.
Josh Hart was everywhere on defense, and knocking down the open jumper.
12 PTS | 13 REB | 11 AST@joshhart really did that. pic.twitter.com/wgPzk6aPTi
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 18, 2025
Hart Banked in an 11 footer, hit a 3, and fed Mitchell Robinson for a SLAM and NY was up 76-62.
“Josh Hart plays with a purpose on both ends,’ noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Plays to win and fills a stat sheet not by chasing stats but rather chasing all 50/50 balls which he makes 20/80 balls, outworks you on the glass by wanting it more, finds the open man, creates his own opportunities while playing his role.”
Bridges hit a drive, Mitchell Robinson grabbed an offensive rebound and slammed it home, Bridges hit free throws off a drive, and Hart hit ANOTHER 3 and NY was up 85-62.
Tyler Herro finally had an answer for Miami, but Landry Shamet answered with a 3 and NY was up 88-64 after 3.
Landry Shamet closes out a 41-15 third quarter for the Knicks!!
4Q coming up on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/4eAH0EphsR
— NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2025
4. Knicks Romp in 4th
Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns were on the court at the same time to start the 4th, and the two dominated. Robinson defending and scoring inside on tip shots and slams.
Bridges hit a 3 and Payne hit a drive and NY was up 106-81 with 3:36 left.
Thibs emptied the bench with 2:54 left.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705550