There are nine games of action across today’s Sunday NBA slate. Tipping off at 6:00 p.m. ET, the New York Knicks will face the Miami Heat in a battle of two Eastern Conference threats.
The Knicks are off to a 2-0 start to the season while the Heat are 1-1. Both these teams were off yesterday, so there will no rest advantage in either direction. Karl-Anthony Towns headlines the injury report and is listed as questionable due to the quad injury he has been battling since the start of the year.
Looking at the odds for the matchup, the Knicks enter as 2.5-point road favorites and hold -142 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook on the moneyline. The Heat hold +120 odds of getting the outright upset with the game total set at 229.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction as both these teams attempt to hit their stride on the season.
Knicks vs. Heat preview, prediction
New York enters the season with NBA Championship aspirations and has gotten off to the start they desire. They took down the Cavaliers 119-111 in the season opener and defeated the Celtics 105-95 on Friday. Mike Brown’s influence on the offense is clear in his first season as head coach with an increase in ball movement and less dependency on Jalen Brunson’s isolation skills.
Brunson still headlines the scoring and is averaging 27.0 points and five assists through the first two games. Karl-Anthony Towns not far behind with 22.5 points and 12.0 rebounds while both Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby have seen their offensive roles scaled up. Miles McBride continues to provide a spark while Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, Josh Hart, Guerschon Yabusele, and Tyler Kolek round out most of their depth.
The Heat are 1-1 to start to the season, but have looked impressive in both games. They suffered a 125-121 loss to the Magic in the season opener, but bounced back with a 146-114 win over the Grizzlies. Miami has put last year’s Jimmy Butler saga behind them and adapted to a new identity.
The most notable offseason addition was the trade for Norman Powell, who looks to be a clear fit for Heat culture. He leads the team with 21.5 points per game along with 7.5 rebounds through the opening two games. Bam Adeabyo is posting 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while Jaime Jaquez Jr, Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware, and Davion Mitchell have each shown encouraging development. Andrew Wiggins also adds 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Notable Injuries:
New York Knicks:
- Mitchell Robinson – OUT (Injury Management)
- Karl-Anthony Towns – Questionable (Quad)
- Miles McBride – OUT (Personal)
- Josh Hart- Probable (Back)
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro – OUT (Foot/Ankle)
- Kasparas Jakucionis – OUT (Groin)
Knicks at Heat prediction, best bet
Both these teams have looked strong out of the gates and have a chance to sit at the top of the Eastern Conference at the season’s conclusion. There looks to be a more focused effort right out of the gates from Miami than has been the case in past years. But New York will be a tough test for them and you can still feel the absence of Tyler Herro in this offense.
Keep an eye on the injury report leading up to the game with Towns’ injury likely to shift the line. As long as he is on the court, look for the Knicks to have the advantage in this game. There will be some going pains in the new-look Mike Brown offense, but Miami has given up 114+ in both games thus far.
There is a familiarity and chemistry with this Knicks roster that are etched by their playoff scars and time spent together. The addition of Norman Powell is notable for the Heat and improved their outlook by a notable extent, but it will take some time for the team to hit their full stride. New York has already taken down the Cavaliers and Celtics with there being more questions about this Heat roster. Look for the Knicks to continue building momentum by winning outright down in Miami and covering the 2.5-point spread. Expect Brunson to have success manipulating this Heat defense and for Towns’ floor spacing to cause some notable issues. The depth of this Knicks team is real and expect this to be Miami’s most difficult test yet, that they are not quite ready.
