Heat Win Six of Seven for First Time This Season, Steal Game 1 From Knicks

For the first time this season, the Heat have won six of seven games, as relayed by Ethan Skolnick of 5 Reasons Sports.

That includes Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals against the host Knicks on Sunday — turning the home-court edge in Miami’s favor. 

The Miami Heat have now won 6 of 7 games dating back to the play-in victory against the Bulls.

They never won 6 of 7 in any stretch of the regular season. @5ReasonsSports

— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) April 30, 2023

Swingman Jimmy Butler again led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds in the 108-101 victory, with underrated support all around. That included the likes guard Gabe Vincent (20 points, five 3-pointers), big man Bam Adebayo (16 points, eight boards), point guard Kyle Lowry (18 points in reserve) and veteran power forward Kevin Love (nine points, five rebounds, four assists).

Butler shook off a twisted ankle to help put the game away. It reportedly had swelled quite a bit following the game, but it doesn’t sound as if he’ll miss Game 2.

“You just don’t know with ankle sprains,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “But he did not want to come out. So we just left him in there.”

At any rate, it’s safe to say the Heat are peaking at the right time after fighting their way to the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

“We’re a back-against-the-wall type of team,” forward Caleb Martin said, via Winderman.

Right now, Miami continues to prove exactly that.

All heart from Jimmy. pic.twitter.com/Iurc5UwuNf

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 30, 2023