The Miami Heat and the New York Knicks open their second-round series this Sunday in the Big Apple. Who’s going to draw first blood? Check out our preview of this Heat vs Knicks matchup in the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs. There are more basketball previews to read here at TopBet, so feel free to look around and make bets once you’re ready.
Jimmy Butler and the Heat pulled off the biggest upset in the first round, as they took down the No. 1 seed in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. Butler was sensational in the first round, scoring 37.6 points per game while shooting close to 60 percent from the field. He’s looking unstoppable at the moment, and he will look to carry that form into the second round. Bam Adebayo will also be playing a big role for the Heat, as they try to match up against the beefy New York frontline. Miami finished the first round leading all teams in the playoffs with 124.0 points per game.
The Heat are 3-2 against the spread in their last five road games versus the Knicks.
Like the Heat, New York got the job done in the first round in five games and in upset fashion too. The No. 5 Knicks took out the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers, thanks in large part to the performances of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson. Among the biggest keys to success for New York in the playoffs is their rebounding. In their 106-95 win over the Cavs in Game 6, the Knicks got 18 rebounds from Robinson. But rebounding strength doesn’t just come for the Knicks from their frontcourt, as Brunson and Hart are both very much capable of producing ample rebounds.
The Knicks are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games as the home team.
