The Knicks faced the Heat for the second straight game, and despite off nights from a few key players, a shot in the arm from the newly-acquired Derrick Rose kept the Knicks within one possession of a potential victory. Still, the Knicks lost a heartbreaker.

509 years ago, Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” recapped last night’s 98-96 Knicks’ loss in Miami. 

You’ll note God fronting 12 people, representing the Heat’s swarming, aggressive perimeter defense. Michelangelo’s inspiration for Adam’s appearance was a cameo of Augustus Caesar that belonged to a Cardinal Grimani, Michelangelo’s friend, an obvious allusion to the Tom Thiobodeau/Derrick Rose bond, resurrected last night when Rose made his latest Knicks debut. Adam’s hand nearly but not quite reaching God’s? That’d be RJ Barrett’s last-second drive for the game-tying two, the forbidden fruit on a Tuesday night in South Beach. 

In the beginning, the Heat defense seemed to burst into existence from nowhere and everywhere all at once. The Knicks were clearly disrupted, and Miami may have dwelt in paradise forever, until Thibs said “Let there be light” in the form of Immanuel Quickley and Rose checking in — together. We knew they’d share minutes at some point, but maybe not that quickly. Those two led a dominant stretch of play that saw the Knicks reserves heat up like a flaming sword, sparking a 15-0 run. Rose was especially brilliant, defending and driving and dishing to others and even draining a dyad of triads. 

But just as God cast Adam and Eve from the Garden, so did the Knick starters throw away the advantage. They couldn’t match the penetration and playmaking of Rose, Quickley, and Alec Burks. Kelly Olynyk was prolific in the first half, making five 3-pointers and keying an 11-0 Miami run. An objectively pretty Tyler Herro layup just before intermission put Miami up two.

Cain and Abel offered different sacrifices to God; that’s what led to the first ever murder. The Knicks and Heat were putting up opposite prayers in the first half: while New York was +18 on 2-pointers and way more effective making them (54% to 24%), Miami placed their faith in the long ball (+9 on threes) and free throws (+11). 

Barrett and Mitchell Robinson breathed life into the team in the third; Mitch, in particular, was creating second-chances on the offensive glass while creating second thoughts in the minds of Miami’s shooters. 

New York went up seven and looked like they might have enough to pull away, until a Miami miracle: Jimmy Butler made his first 3-ball of the season. Like Saul on the road to Damascus, the Knicks saw the light after the Heat’s first half and started forcing turnovers and scoring efficiently from long-range, too. This especially lovely sequence of ball movement put New York up 10:

As the fourth neared endgame, Miami’s hopes boiled down to the trinity of Herro, Butler, and Bam Adebayo; the latter two had 30 of the team’s first 34 second-half points. Butler hit a pair of free throws with just under four minutes left to give the Heat their first lead of the quarter. The Knicks went back up, but someone woke Olynyk up and his first points of the second half put Miami up with just under three minutes left. Adebayo goaltended an Elfrid Payton shot to tie it at 94. It stayed that way till just over a minute remaining, when Herro played hero.

Quickley dropped a floater to pull the Knicks within one. Miami missed on their next possession and the Knicks had a chance to win. Julius Randle’s baseline fadeaway came up short. Andre Iguodala had the rebound, but lost possession. In the scramble, Randle was called for a loose ball foul called on Butler, who missed the front end of his free throws to make it 98-96. With six seconds left, RJ tossed up a Tower of Babel shot, only for the basketball gods strike it down.

Notes

• The pessimist sees Randle, RJ and Quickley went a combined 11-for-41 and thinks “There’s your L.” The optimist sees that and thinks “They still almost won. A testament to the rest of the squad.” Me? I just hate losing to Miami, and always shall.

• There were points where it felt like I was watching the Calipari Bowl. Seven players between both teams played their college ball for one of the great coaches and exploiters of our time.

• Rose showed instant chemistry with Burks. As expected, he lets Quickley exist for once as an off-ball threat, a welcome change. Unexpectedly, and pro’ly unsustainably, Rose had the touch from outside all night.

• Burks scored in double figures for the third straight game. If he’s back on track, the Knick bench could be a problem for opponents the rest of the season.

• Nerlens Noel played an impactful first half, putting up six and six along with two blocks.

• When Miami’s court is that mix of blue, pink and purple... soooo pretty. How come the Nets and Heat can come up with gorgeous looks for their floors and the Knicks are based in $%#&!*@ Manhattan and can’t find anyone to do that for them?

• Butler and Adebayo took twice as many free throws as the Knicks. Whatever.

• Butler is, in one sense, a super version of David Lee. I wrote that in my game notes, woke the next morning and can’t remember what sense I meant. But there it is.

• MSG trivia: Rose was the youngest NBA MVP ever (22). Whose record did he break?

• Rule change, please: breakaways are exciting, no matter which team gets one. Cut the fouls that kill them. This year especially it seems like every team in the league has told its players to foul on any potential fast break, even when they have the numbers to reasonably contest. It’s so annoying as a fan.

• Mike Breen grew mad choked up reading about the death of NYC high school coaching icon Tom Konchalski. “Sorry about your friend,” Clyde said. The whole thing was very moving.

• Butler is so likable that even as a Heat player, I can’t help but like him. He seems to really enjoy life.

• Trivia answer: Wes Unseld, who was 23.

Quoth Chuck D on the track “Hazy Shade of Criminal”: “Reach uppity reach gotta reach.” RJ and the Knicks did, over two tight games against last year’s Eastern Conference champs. But like Adam, they couldn’t quite bridge the gap against a superior being. Next game is Friday at Washington. Thank God for that.