Miami Heat Hand the New York Knicks Their First Loss Of the Season
The Miami Heat welcomed the New York Knicks to Kaseya Center on Sunday night and promptly sent them packing with a 115-107 victory that had all the intensity of a playoff matchup. And honestly? It felt like one. This wasn’t just a win. This was a statement—the kind that makes you wonder if maybe, just maybe, the Heat are figuring things out faster than anyone expected.
Norman Powell Catches Fire
If you blinked during Norman Powell’s performance, you missed something special. The veteran guard was absolutely cooking, dropping 29 points and looking every bit like the scoring threat Miami envisioned when they brought him in. Powell was relentless, attacking the rim, getting to the free-throw line seemingly at will, and draining clutch shots when the Knicks tried to make things interesting down the stretch.
It’s early, but Powell’s already proving he can be that go-to scorer when Tyler Herro (still recovering from ankle surgery) returns to action. The scary part? This offense might be even more dangerous once Herro’s back in the mix.
Bam Adebayo Does the Dirty Work
While Powell grabbed the headlines, Bam Adebayo was out there doing what Bam does—everything. Sure, his 5-of-15 shooting night won’t make any highlight reels, but his 19 points and 13 rebounds kept the Heat afloat when the offense got stagnant. Plus, he was a defensive anchor all night, making life miserable for Karl-Anthony Towns and helping contain the Knicks’ interior attack.
That’s the thing about Adebayo. Even on an “off” night, he’s still impacting winning. It’s maddening for opponents and exactly what championship-caliber teams need from their centerpiece.
The Bench Mob Delivers
Here’s where things get fun. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Simone Fontecchio combined for 31 points off the bench, providing exactly the kind of punch Head Coach Erik Spoelstra loves. Jaquez was his usual pest self—cutting, slashing, and generally making defenders regret their life choices. Fontecchio, meanwhile, showed off that silky three-point stroke and surprising interior toughness that’s been turning heads since training camp.
When your second unit can chip in like that, you’re cooking with gas. The Heat finished with a ridiculous 31-10 advantage in fast-break points, which tells you everything about how they’re trying to play this season.
Jalen Brunson Keeps the Knicks Alive
Let’s give credit where it’s due: Jalen Brunson was phenomenal, pouring in 37 points and keeping New York within striking distance for most of the night. The dude is a certified bucket-getter, and watching him work was like watching an artist paint—methodical, purposeful, and ultimately beautiful.
But here’s the problem: he didn’t get nearly enough help. Mikal Bridges added 20, but Towns struggled from deep (2-of-8 from three), and the Knicks’ bench combined for just 21 points. You’re not beating a team playing with this kind of energy when your supporting cast goes AWOL.
What This Means For the Heat
Miami’s now 2-1 through a brutal opening stretch that included matchups with Orlando and Memphis. They’re running, they’re defending, and most importantly, they’re finding different ways to win. That’s dangerous. The Charlotte Hornets visit on Tuesday, and if the Heat keep this momentum rolling, we might need to start taking them seriously as Eastern Conference contenders.
