Knicks take advantage of Jimmy Butler's absence, beat Heat to even series in Game 2

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The Miami Heat went into Game 2 without their star player Jimmy Butler, and the New York Knicks took advantage of it. 

The Knicks picked up the victory at Madison Square Garden, 111-105, in a battle that went back and forth from the second the ball was tipped. 

It came down to a pivotal fourth-quarter run for the Knicks, where the Knicks scored 12 to the Heat's three points, which was capped by Jalen Brunson's three-pointer to give New York the lead with 4:05 to play. 

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Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.   (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Then, a controversial play ensued for the Heat as a heave to the hoop to avoid a shot-clock violation was called an airball, and in turn, Knicks ball. But Heat guard Gabe Vincent was screaming to the referee that the ball hit the rim. It would’ve been two points for the Heat, and a replay showed that it did graze the rim. 

Instead, the Knicks use that momentum to hit a floater on the other end thanks to Jalen Brunson to make it 101-96. The Heat got within one on Bam Adebayo’s dunk, but the Knicks started running away after that when Josh Hart hit a corner three and Julius Randle fought hard for an offensive rebound that resulted in a foul and two made free throws, 106-100. 

As they've shown in the NBA Playoffs thus far, the Heat never quit and they ended up cutting the lead to three with 22 seconds left. 

HEAT IN ‘WAITING GAME’