Norman Powell scored 29 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 115-107 win over the visiting New York Knicks on Sunday night.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with a game-high 37 points on 14-for-26 shooting. He made 5 of 11 3-point attempts, dished seven assists and led an 18-5 fourth-quarter run that came up short.
The Knicks also got 20 points from Mikal Bridges, who went 3-of-5 on 3-point attempts. Karl-Anthony Towns added 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
Bam Adebayo had 19 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in Miami’s home opener. The Heat’s reserves outscored the Knicks’ bench 44-21 as Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the way with 17 points. The Heat also outscored New York 31-10 on fast-break points.
The key for Miami was an 11-0 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters and gave the Heat a 93-81 lead on Jaquez’s layup with 10:15 to play. Brunson was on the bench for the entire stretch.
The Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time in 25 years, were without guard Miles McBride due to personal reasons. This was also New York’s first loss of the season following two home wins.
New York led 27-24 after a first quarter during which three players scored in double figures: Powell (13), Brunson (11) and OG Anunoby (10). Anunoby, however, finished with just 14 points.
The Heat surged ahead in the second quarter, taking a 57-54 lead into halftime. Adebayo, held without a field goal in the first quarter, scored nine points in the second.
Miami stretched its lead to 88-81 after three quarters. Brunson scored 12 points in the third and Powell countered with 9-for-9 shooting at the line.
The Heat’s extended run through the third and fourth quarters rose to 22-6, and that was enough to beat the Knicks.
For the game, Miami shot 45.8% from the floor compared to 38.8% for New York.
The Heat also outscored the Knicks at the foul line, 26-16.
