Julius Randle Under 23 Points
The Miami Heat have a strong defensive lineup that could potentially limit Randle’s scoring opportunities. They have a number of versatile defenders, such as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, who can guard multiple positions and disrupt the Knicks’ offensive flow.
Randle has been playing heavy minutes lately, averaging 39.3 minutes per game over his last three games. This increased workload could lead to fatigue and decreased productivity, especially against a tough defensive team like the Heat.
Despite shooting a 49% field goal percentage over the last 10 games, Randle is averaging just 21 points against the Heat in 4 games this season and just 16 points in the 8 games he has played in the postseason. In the 3 games he has played against the Heat in this series, Randle has scored 20, 10, and 25 points respectively.
The Knicks have been relying heavily on Randle for their scoring this season, but they will need contributions from other players to have success against the Heat. If the rest of the Knicks roster isn’t to step up and take some of the scoring burden off of him, he may not be able to reach his scoring average due to stingy defense by the Heat and exhaustion as the game gets down the stretch.
Take the under on Randle’s points tonight.
Kyle Lowry Over 10.5 Points
Kyle Lowry is one of the primary offensive options for the Miami Heat’s second unit and will likely see plenty of scoring opportunities in tonight’s game. He is a versatile scorer who can create his own shot and score off the ball, making him a threat from multiple positions on the court.
Lowry has scored 15, 14, 6, and 18 points against the Knicks during this playoff series and is averaging 11 PPG on the road this season and 10 PPG throughout the entire Heat’s playoff run. He is also averaging 33% from the 3-point line against the Knicks and has hit 2 3-pointers in each of the last 2 games against New York.
The New York Knicks have a solid defensive team, but they do not have a standout defender on the second unit who can match up well with Lowry. This could allow Lowry to exploit weaknesses in the Knicks’ defense and find scoring opportunities.
Lowry is an important piece of the Miami Heat’s offense, with a high usage rate and involvement in the team’s playmaking. This means he will likely have the ball in his hands often and have the opportunity to make scoring plays for himself or his teammates.
Take the over on Lowry tonight.
