Karl-Anthony Towns led the New York Knicks with 39 points, while Landry Shamet added a career-high 36 off the bench as New York defeated the Miami Heat 140-130 on Friday at Madison Square Garden. Josh Hart contributed his first triple-double of the season with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Knicks trailed 62-61 in the second quarter before Towns hit consecutive 3-pointers and two free throws, sparking a run that helped New York take a 78-68 halftime lead. Miami briefly regained momentum in the third quarter, closing the gap to 104-102, but the Knicks maintained control.
Norman Powell scored a season-high 38 points to pace the Heat, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. adding 23 and Andrew Wiggins 15. Despite their efforts, Miami could not overcome New York’s offensive firepower and balanced attack.
New York extended its lead in the final quarter with a 10-0 run, highlighted by Shamet’s 3-pointer that gave the Knicks a 125-110 advantage with 6:55 remaining. The Heat never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.
The Knicks played without Jalen Brunson, who missed his first game of the season due to a sprained right ankle, and OG Anunoby, who left early with a left hamstring strain. Miami was without key players as well, but Powell’s scoring kept the contest competitive.
New York’s bench production was crucial, with Shamet and Clarkson combining for 61 points. The Knicks outrebounded the Heat 51-46 and forced 15 turnovers, highlighting their dominance on both ends of the court.
With the win, the Knicks and Heat are even at 1-1 in NBA Cup Group C play. New York will travel to face Miami in the rematch on Monday, seeking to maintain momentum, while the Heat aim to rebound at home.
