Knicks at Heat, Game 6: Halftime Thoughts From South Beach

The New York Knicks lost a relatively sizable lead but a brilliant start has allowed them to keep pace in a battle for Game 7 against the Miami Heat.

If the Miami Heat have anything to say about it, the Eastern Conference Semifinals will go out with a ... Bam.

The New York Knicks jumped out to an early 14-point lead and held Jimmy Butler to nine points, but Bam Adebayo's output of 17 has helped the Heat jump out to a 51-50 lead at halftime of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Trying to stave off elimination, Jalen Brunson leads all scorers with 22 while RJ Barrett added 10 points in the first quarter.

What can be gathered from a metropolitan perspective?

Drive to Survive 

The Knicks must've made a stop at Daytona International Speedway before Game 6, as they took their early lead by driving. It also put them at the foul line: New York shot ... and made ... 11 from the charity stripe, with RJ Barrett responsible for eight of those attempts alone. Once the game moved to the top of the key, the Knicks began to struggle: though some clutch deep balls from Brunson and Obi Toppin allowed them to keep pace, they didn't get to the line once in the second period. They also had trouble keeping Miami away from their own foul line, as both Barrett and Brunson were charged with three fouls.

Brunzzzzzon 

Brunson finally got a little bit of rest during second quarter action, but does it really have to be this way? Even with Immanuel Quickley injured and out, the insistence of limiting Miles McBride's minutes and sitting Derrick Rose entirely (no matter how cold he may be) continues to strike many as puzzling. Is Thibodeau's preference for established talent going to bite him one last time?

Butler Feels Grimey

Adebayo has bar none been the MVP for the Heat as Grimes has been held in check by the Knicks' defensive backcourt specialists. Quentin Griimes won't have to play all 48 minutes tonight but he's once again done his job on Butler, who has tallied only nine points on 3-of-10 shooting. Perhaps inspired by Brunson and Grimes' dueling complete games in Game 5, Butler offered to go all 48 tonight, but his struggles afforded him an early rest while Adebayo found his rhythm.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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