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NBA Playoffs: Skip Bayless Is 'All About' Heat Despite Knicks' Game 2 Win
Fox Sports host Skip Bayless is still cool on the New York Knicks' chances to defeat the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals despite an impressive effort to close out Game 2 of the best-of-seven series at Madison Square Garden.
New York embarked on a 24-12 run over the final seven minutes of Tuesday's equalizer to secure a 111-105 victory that knotted up the matchup after Miami took home a seven-point triumph in the opener on Sunday. It was an effort headlined by a 30-point performance for Jalen Brunson and a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double for Julius Randle, who returned from an ankle injury that kept him out of Game 1.
The Knicks' fourth quarter prowess, which had Brunson and Josh Hart score 10 apiece, was, in fact, one of the season for Bayless' doubt, claiming that the fact that the hosts needed such late heroics to win without star performer Jimmy Butler on the other side proves that New York is merely prolonging the inevitable.
"The Knicks (were) on the ropes at home," Bayless noted on an edition of "Undisputed" on Fox Sports 1 this week. "All the stars are out and all the pressure is on."
To Bayless' point, Miami was not only missing Butler (he of a 25-point, 11-rebound showing in Game 1) but also Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, the latter two likely done for however long the Heat's improbable playoff run lasts. The Heat also briefly lost Max Strus, who went to the locker room to have a back injury checked out during the second half.
Butler injured his ankle in the latter stages of Game 1 after rolling his ankle on Hart's foot and was held out of Tuesday's contest entirely. Many believe that he'll be back in action when the series shifts to South Beach on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Bayless believes that, had the Heat not shot 4-of-12 over the final seven minutes, they would've had a potential dagger victory early on.
"They went cold at the end when you could least afford to go cold," Bayless noted. "The Knicks are just in trouble because Jimmy Butler didn't push it. Shams (Charania) reported that he was pushing to play but you give it a little more time to heal."
While Bayless did give the Knicks some credit, namely Brunson and Hart's brand of "Philadelphia toughness" carried over from their shared college days at Villanova, he remains convinced that the tied series won't make it to seven games because he doesn't see New York winning in Miami ... provided, of course, the Heat have the services of Butler.
"I believe Miami will win both the games in Miami," Bayless told co-host Shannon Sharpe. "The Knicks will be down 3-1. Maybe they could win one back at The Garden and then it'll be Miami in six. I'm all about the Heat off of (Game 2)."
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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