Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks: Can Julius Randle and the Knicks Force a Game Seven?
It's Game 6 between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks, and the Knicks' NBA Playoffs future is on the line. Will Julius Randle and his team step up in crunch time? Ben Rajavuori answers.
Ben Rajavuori - May 12, 2023, 11:58 AM EDT
4 minutesMiami Heat vs. New York Knicks: Can Julius Randle and the Knicks Force a Game Seven?
The Knicks were able to avoid elimination on their home court in game five, taking the game 112-103 behind a monstrous effort from Jalen Brunson. Brunson put up 38 points while shooting 12/22 from the floor. Barrett and Randle also had big games, as the three combined put up 88 of the Knicks' 112 points. Can the Knicks do it again in game six on the road to force a game seven?
Julis Randle had a great game five, shooting 4/7 from deep (57%) and shooting 7/13 from the field to rack up 24 points. He hadn't made four threes in any postseason game this year so far in eight games, despite putting up 9+ attempts in three of them. Randle was hot from deep and had a great game overall, yet he still hit just 24 points, while his line for game six tonight is 24.5.
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks Game 6 Start Time and Where to Watch
Date: Friday, May 12, 2023
Start Time: 7:30 pm ET
Where to Watch: ESPN
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks Game 6 Prediction
Julius Randle has cleared 24.5 points just once in nine postseason games, which was game two of this series when the Knicks won at home without Jimmy Butler on the floor. In the series, Randle is averaging 19.8 points per game with 14.8 field goal attempts per game. Part of this is because Bam Adebayo has covered Randle for most of the time he has been on the court, which has been a tough matchup on both ends of the floor for Randle. Adebayo is a great defender who has stifled Randle, and the only way Randle got around that was by hitting his shots from deep last game, but that is something I do not expect to keep up. In the playoffs, Randle is shooting just 27.1% from three, so game five was more of an outlier game from deep.
Another element of the frustration Adebayo has caused has been foul trouble for Randle. Randle fouled out in game four, and he got into foul trouble in game three with four fouls.
Randle has actually been shooting really well the past two games now, as he shot 61.5% from the floor in game four and 53.8% in game five, yet he did not clear 24.5 points in either game. I doubt Randle will shoot over 50% again on the road in game six for a third-straight game, and I expect his shooting numbers to regress in game six. In four road games this postseason, Randle had yet to shoot over 45% before game four, and he did not get within a bucket of going over 24.5 points. Randle has hit 25+ points in just one of his last ten games, and I see no reason to believe he should hit that tonight in what will be another tough defensive matchup. Jalen Brunson had a great game five, and I expect Brunson and Barrett to put up most of the shots for the Knicks tonight.
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks Game 6 Pick
Pick: Julius Randle U24.5 Points -120 is currently the best odds Click here to find out which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
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