Knicks Suffer First Season Loss to Heat Defending Despite 54 Three-Point Attempts

The New York Knicks suffered their first loss of the season against the Miami Heat, falling 115-107 in a game that highlighted their shooting struggles and bench weaknesses. Despite head coach Mike Brown's push to embrace a "pace and space" offense with a high volume of three-point attempts—54 in the game—the Knicks shot poorly from beyond the arc, making only 15, which allowed the Heat to capitalize on fast breaks and control the tempo. Jalen Brunson was a standout for New York, scoring 37 points and keeping the team competitive, but the Knicks' bench faltered significantly, failing to maintain momentum and allowing Miami's reserves to dominate. Miami, led by Norman Powell's 29 points, leveraged their speed and defensive stops to excel in transition and secure the victory. The Knicks’ offensive identity shift under Brown, evidenced by increased three-point attempts from early in the season, was noted by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra as a significant schematic change, but the execution faltered in this matchup. Ultimately, the Heat's ability to exploit New York's cold shooting and bench deficiencies proved decisive in handing the Knicks their first defeat.