The New York Knicks played the Miami Heat at home on Nov. 14th. Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson was out with a sprained ankle, and forward OG Anunoby played for five minutes before leaving the game with a hamstring injury. It was uncertain if the Knicks were able to operate a well-oiled machine without their top scorer and top defender.

Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns scored 39 points, Landry Shamet with his career-high of 36 points, Jordan Clarkson with 25 points and the Heat’s Norman Powell with 38 points. 

The Heat were in a similar situation to the Knicks, missing stars  like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Powell, being extremely efficient, led the charge for the Heat, making 12 of 22 shots. 

He also contributed five defensive rebounds, making his contributions well-rounded. 

Jaime Jaquez Jr. was a reliable player for the Heat by taking calculated, low-risk shots that would earn him 23 points and nine rebounds. 

Despite the Heat giving it their all, with five of their players scoring 15 or more points, the Knicks’ victory boiled down to efficient offense and dominating the possession battle. 

The Knicks were able to thrive in harmony, with each player understanding their role early on.

For Shamet, that meant efficiency and good decision-making. He didn’t make flashy passes, force drives and only turned the ball over once. 

He made moves that were certain to benefit the team and didn’t allow a possession to be wasted.  Towns served as an anchor for the team, scoring a steady stream of points and making six threes, while producing on the other end and grabbing nine defensive rebounds. 

Mitchell Robinson, without scoring any points, still made sure the Knicks kept the ball on their side by grabbing eight offensive rebounds. 

Josh Hart earned his first triple-double of the season, playing a leadership role and setting the tempo for play, dispersing his impact throughout all facets of the game. 

Mikal Bridges, who had a slow shooting night, still impacted the game defensively, recording seven steals and eight defensive rebounds. 

Lastly, Clarkson proved himself to be a great pickup for the Knicks, scoring 25 points with a 67.3 true shooting percentage.

Overall, this game was a highlight reel of everything the Knicks and the Heat can do in adversity. The next cohort of NBA Cup games will take place on Nov. 21.