How another early clash with Heat can help Knicks in the long run

The Knicks view Monday’s clash against the Miami Heat in Miami as a valuable opportunity to prepare for the postseason. This upcoming game marks the third time the Knicks will face the Heat in the first 13 games of the season, and their second meeting within just three days.

“It’s a good playoff warmup, practice, playing the same team over two days or three days,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after practice on Sunday. “You gotta be ready for them to adjust, ready for them to do what they gotta do as a coaching staff to counteract what we do and what we showed them last game. It’s gonna be good for us to have sort of a playoff series style of play where we played them two days ago and now we’re about to play them again and at their house. It’s kind of those momentum shifts you see in Game 2 or 3 or 4 and 5 [of a playoff series]. It’s gonna be good for us to have practice with that.”

The teams have already split the first two matchups this season, with each squad winning on their home court.

“Obviously, we’ve played two games already, we’re already a little familiar with it,” said Josh Hart. “You gotta make adjustments. Obviously, [Heat coach Erik Spoelstra] is gonna watch the game and he’s gonna have them ready to go. It was a very high-scoring game [on Friday], so we expect the defense to pick up, the physicality to pick up a little bit. It’s kind of like a playoff series, in a sense. We’ve played them three times in three weeks, so you’re familiar with them. Now, you try to do a couple of adjustments, a couple of counters.”

Off the court, Towns received a special birthday gift from his girlfriend, Jordyn Woods. She revealed on Instagram that she tracked down and refurbished his mom’s old car from his childhood, then shipped it across the country to present it to him for his 30th birthday on Saturday. Woods shared that Towns had expressed how much he “loved” that car.

“She did an amazing thing,” Towns said. “I’m still shocked by it. It’s something fun, I can’t wait to drive it. I’m still stunned by it. She’s one of a kind, what can I say. It was something special. I’m excited to drive it. It’s hard in New York to drive it right now, but it’s gonna be fun in my life to drive that car around a lot.”

Regarding player availability, Knicks guard Miles McBride is listed as questionable for Monday’s game due to personal reasons. Meanwhile, the Heat continue to be without Bam Adebayo, who is sidelined with a left big toe sprain, and Tyler Herro, who is recovering from left ankle surgery. Both players are out again for the upcoming matchup.

Stay tuned as the Knicks prepare to take on the Heat in what promises to be another intense and strategic contest reminiscent of a playoff series.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/16/sports/how-another-early-clash-with-heat-can-help-knicks-in-the-long-run/

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