New York Knicks: 2nd Unit 'Assertiveness' Fuels Comeback, Crucial Win

The New York Knicks' latest victory, a come-from-behind thriller against the Miami Heat, was an undeniable full effort.

The New York Knicks got an impressive win in a 100-98 win over the Miami Heat. While Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett once again led the way, their understudies and more came through on a night that saw New York fall behind by as much as 21 in the second half.

By the end of the comeback trail, the 37-24 advantage in bench points was one of many scoring battles that fell in the Knicks' favor. Part of that tally was earned at the start of the comeback: center Isaiah Hartenstein, subbing for a Mitchell Robinson weighed down by foul trouble, seemed poised to add to the deficit on a turnover that nearly became a Heywood Highsmith dunk. But the backup big man chased down Highsmith, rejected his easy two, and got a push that eventually turned into an Immanuel Quickley three.

The five-point swing was the start of a 37-15 run over the last 15-plus minutes that helped keep the Knicks' hopes at an In-Season Tournament knockout round bid alive.

New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) contests a jump shot by Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (23) / USA TODAY SPORTS

“What was all going through my mind is, I don’t really care what the score says. I made a mistake, so I just really wanted to make up for it,” Hartenstein recalled when asked about the block, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. “I think those plays really count, and I think that play really started our run."

Hartenstein, who ended the game with five rebounds and two steals, partly credited the crowd gathered at Madison Square Garden for their role in the comeback: Friday marked the Knicks' first home game in nearly two full weeks and was the opener of a four-game home stand.

"I think that's a special thing you won’t get in a lot of places," Hartenstein said. "But that sequence, you’re in the Garden, you’re down 20, a lot of teams in the NBA probably would be like, 'Oh, we’re done.' But I kind of felt like we had a chance to come back."

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Elsewhere on the bench, Quickley had a more direct impact on the Knicks' scoring efforts, scoring 20 points in relief. Quickley, Barrett, and Brunson each scored eight points in the fourth quarter, which saw New York (9-6) outscore Miami 29-11 over the last 12 minues. 

"Immanuel Quickley came in and really changed the game. I don’t know how much he had in that third and fourth quarter, but he really changed the game," Miami's Kyle Lowry declared, per Ian Begley of SNY. "His aggressiveness, his assertiveness."

Helping the Knicks partly avenge their six-game playoff defeat at the hands of the Heat was personally for Quickley, who missed the final three games of the series due to an ankle sprain.

“I wanted to be there to help my teammates out last year but obviously didn’t get to do that," Quickley said, per Bridget Reilly of The Post. "Just to be able to have this game and help my teammates any way I can, is always great. 

The Knicks return to action on Sunday evening when they host the Phoenix Suns (6 p.m. ET, MSG).