Knicks vs. Heat score, takeaways: Jimmy Butler returns to help Miami dominate New York in Game 3

The Heat now own a 2-1 lead over the Knicks with Game 4 coming on Monday

The Miami Heat took a 2-1 series lead against the New York Knicks following a 105-86 win Saturday afternoon. It was the return of Jimmy Butler, who missed Game 2 with a right ankle sprain, and he immediately made his presence known with 28 points, four rebounds and three assists. His intensity on the defensive side of the ball also helped contain a Knicks team that struggled to find any sort of offensive consistency. The Heat had four players score in double figures, including 14 points off the bench for Kyle Lowry, and 19 points from Max Strus. 

For the Knicks, it was an abysmal shooting performance, as the team shot just 34.1% from the field and 20% from deep. Jalen Brunson finished with 20 points on an inefficient 7-of-20 from the field and 0-of-5 from deep. Julius Randle also struggled mightily, going 4-of-15 from the field, as he finished with just 10 points.

The Heat will look to extend their series lead in Game 4 on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Here are three takeaways from Miami's Game 3 victory.

1. Jimmy Butler's return

The Heat put up a spirited effort in their Game 2 loss against the Knicks, but it was obvious they missed the presence of Butler. Not just because of his scoring, but because of his playmaking, intensity, defense and all the little things he does that make this team go. Well, all of those things that Butler brings to the table were on full display Saturday afternoon, and he showed no signs of restrictions from the right ankle sprain through the first half of the game. 

He got going early, scoring 18 of his 28 points in the first half, and from the start of the game you could tell how much his presence transforms this Miami team. The intensity he brings on defense, which resulted in several Knicks turnovers and even two blocks, trickles down to how everyone else on the Heat play. Because of that infectious effort that Butler has, the Heat forced the Knicks into nine first-half turnovers, including six in the second quarter. Butler's presence also opens up so much more for the Heat on offense, allowing guys like Strus to get better looks, and the opportunities Bam Adebayo was getting in Game 3 were primarily due to the defensive attention Butler commands when he's driving to the rim.

Then there's the fact that Butler has shown time and time again how clutch he can be when needed. When the Knicks went on an 8-0 run with five minutes left in the fourth quarter to cut Miami's lead down to 14 points, Butler came down and hit this tough jumper to stop the run:

The icing on the cake came as Butler jogged back on defense and you could see him saying, "He can't guard me" while pointing at Josh Hart. Talk about making a statement in your return after missing Game 2. 

2. An abysmal shooting performance from the Knicks

It's not surprising that the Knicks struggled so much shooting the ball today given they don't have a ton of elite shooters on this team. That issue only gets exacerbated when Brunson, Randle and RJ Barrett go a combined 16-of-51 from the field. New York isn't going to win games when all three of them are struggling to find their shot, and that's exactly what happened Saturday afternoon. Brunson and Randle went a combined 0-of-10 from 3-point range, and while Barrett connected on two triples, he was a non-factor for much of the game.

Randle, though, had a particularly bad game. He connected on as many field goals as he had turnovers (4) and took some low-quality shots over the course of the game. If he's going to struggle to score, he has to find other ways to impact the game, primarily with his passing, instead of forcing up bad shots. 

Aside from those three, the Knicks also got dominated on points in the paint, getting outscored 50-36. For a team that ranked 10th in the league during the regular season in paint scoring, that's a pretty shocking disparity, and an issue the Knicks will need to reverse for Game 4. 

3. Potential worrisome injuries for Knicks

As we look ahead to Game 4, there could be two potential injuries we'll have to keep an eye on for the Knicks. In the fourth quarter, Immanuel Quickley got tangled up with Adebayo while they were both diving for a loose ball, and after laying on the ground in pain for a while, Quickley gingerly walked back to the locker room. Knicks head coach said after the game that Quickley has a sprained ankle, but the team will know more tomorrow about the severity of his injury. The other injury is to Brunson, who Thibodeau said "tweaked" his ankle during Game 3. Late in the game, Brunson could be seen limping around, but it didn't stop him from playing 37 minutes. He's been dealing with an ankle injury throughout the playoffs, but if it has flared up again that'll be an issue for the Knicks going forward.

Quickley's injury seems a bit more serious as Thibodeau gave a specific designation for it, and if he is unable to play in Game 4 that'll make New York's already limited second unit that much weaker. Quickley put up 12 points for the Knicks, and he's a vital piece to the Knicks' bench unit. 

[May 6, 2023 at 6:02 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Quickley exits game in fourth quarter

After getting tangled up with Bam Adebayo while the two were competing for a loose ball, it looked like Quickley's left leg got caught up under Adebayo. He stayed on the ground for awhile and then managed to walk back to the locker room gingerly. 

[May 6, 2023 at 5:52 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Heat out to biggest lead of the day

That last crafty layup from Kyle Lowry gives Miami its biggest lead of the afternoon at 22. There's just under eight minutes left in this game, but it looks over. New York hasn't gotten anything consistently all game.

[May 6, 2023 at 5:43 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

End of 3Q -- Heat up 87-70 against Knicks

We've got 12 minutes left and the Heat are still in total control. The Knicks had a spirited third quarter, but they've dug themselves into too much of a hole to mount a real comeback. Perhaps the tide will turn in the fourth quarter, but they've shown very little to expect that to happen.

[May 6, 2023 at 5:40 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Technicals assessed for scuffle at end of third quarter

Following a basket from Immanuel Quickley technicals were given to Isaiah Hartenstein, Cody Zeller and Caleb Martin. Wasn't like the fights the '90s Heat-Knicks teams got into, but you could sense something was going to pop off after Julius Randle and Zeller got tied up a couple times in the third quarter. 

[May 6, 2023 at 5:32 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Savvy coach's challenge from Spoelstra

The Heat challenged an offensive foul call on Gabe Vincent, and while it looked like he initiated contact with Brunson upon review officials determined the Knicks guard initiated the contact, awarding Vincent with three free throws. 

[May 6, 2023 at 5:24 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Jimmy Butler hobbling after taking a spill on the floor

Butler missed Game 2 due to a sprained right ankle, and just a few possessions ago while driving to the rim he slipped on the floor and it looked like he tweaked that right ankle. He's remained in the game, but he's playing with a noticeable limp. 

[May 6, 2023 at 5:23 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Knicks shooting woes continue

After an abysmal first half, the Knicks still can't seem to breakthrough in this game. They're still just shooting 33% from the field and 20% from deep. The Heat aren't even shooting much better, but New York's turnovers have really killed them in this game. 

[May 6, 2023 at 5:06 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Mitchell Robinson with four fouls

Just as in Game 2, Robinson finds himself in foul trouble again. He has four and he'll go to the bench. Not great for the Knicks.

[May 6, 2023 at 4:46 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

End of 2Q -- Heat up 58-45 on Knicks

Knicks started to climb back into this one after falling behind by 19 points, but the Heat are still fully in control here. Butler has 15 points at halftime after missing Game 2, and the Heat are getting great contributions from just about everyone.