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As-the-ankle-turns series now turns to Knicks’ Quickley (doubtful) against Heat

ira winderman, south florida sun-sentinel
·4 min read

MIAMI – This Eastern Conference semifinal between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks remains an as-the-ankle-turns series, with the latest focus on the Knicks instant-offense guard Immanuel Quickley.

The Quickley concern comes after previous ankle sprains of the Knicks’ Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, as well as one for the Heat’s Jimmy Butler.

Quickly was injured during the fourth quarter of the Heat’s 105-86 Saturday victory at Kaseya Center that gave them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup heading into Monday’s 7:30 p.m. Game 4 at Kaseya Center.

“A little sore,” Quickley said after Saturday’s game. “It hurt a lot, but part of the game. We’ll see.”

He then was listed as doubtful Sunday by the Knicks.

“We’ll see where he is [Monday],” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said before the release of the Knicks’ injury report.

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Brunson also is again dealing with an ankle issue, after a misstep Saturday, a “tweak” Thibodeau called it. Brunson had been questionable with an ankle sprain before playing in Game 2.

“I’m all good,” Brunson said after Saturday’s game. “I’ll be good Monday.”

Potential backcourt replacement options for the Knicks could be Evan Fournier or Derrick Rose, neither of whom have played in the series.

“Everything is on the table,” Thibodeau said Sunday, with Miles McBride replacing Quickley in Saturday’s game.

Seemingly beyond such issues are Randle, who missed Game 1 with an ankle sprain, and Butler, who missed Game 2 with an ankle sprain.

For the Heat, Butler and forward Caleb Martin (back) are listed as questionable, with the expectation both will play, as they did Saturday with the same listing. Tyler Herro (hand) and Victor Oladipo (knee) are still out following surgeries. Udonis Haslem (illness) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are probable. Cody Zeller (nasal fracture) is available.

Neither Randle nor Brunson was on the Knicks’ injury report.

Alternate options

The Heat went light Sunday, with a team meeting, before coach Erik Spoelstra sent his players on their way by noon.

That had some heading out later for the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup Playoffs game, with the Miami Grand Prix also attracting interest.

“The guys all understand that we have to get our rest, get off your feet,” Spoelstra said of the busy sports weekend in South Florida. “It’s not going to be standing, doing that kind of stuff. But I also don’t want them just obsessing about the game [Monday]. We have to rest up, recover, let your mind kind of wander to other things. And then I think that gives you a better opportunity to really lock in, which we were able to do [Saturday].

“If you’re just always on edge, it’s tough to get to that next level. And our guys have been responsible. It’s a fun time right now in South Florida, it really is, if you’re a sports fan.”

Guard Gabe Vincent was among those heading to the Panthers game, having conducted his Saturday postgame interviews in a Panthers jersey.

“It’s awesome,” he said of the packed sports slate. “It’s awesome to see the respective sports get their attention and get a crowd, especially the Panthers, who have been playing really well.”

Moving on

Point guard Kyle Lowry said Sunday he does not expect Monday to be a case of the team with the series lead exhaling.

“I think we’re more desperate. I think we want to go out there and protect homecourt,” he said, with Game 5 in New York at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. “So I can’t really answer that question for you today, because I think we’re going to be more desperate, honestly.” . . .

Saturday was not the best of games for Vincent, closing 1 of 8 from the field, including 0 for 4 on 3-pointers, leaving him appreciative Sunday of teammates picking up the slack.

“I mean, it’s awesome,” he said of the support system. “I mean it’s a team game at the end of the day. I didn’t shoot the ball as well as I had the previous games. I didn’t shoot as much, which is totally fine. We got the win and that’s the most important thing. I missed some shots that I will normally make.”