The Knicks didn’t lose to “Playoff Jimmy.” Their undoing was their own.
It didn’t take a superhuman effort from Jimmy Butler for the Heat to steal away home-court advantage.
It just took a representative performance befitting a well-coached, tough and experienced group as the Knicks, with Julius Randle out, couldn’t hit the ocean from 3-point range and failed to do the little things well — like taking care of the ball and getting back in transition.
The result was a sour start to a highly anticipated Eastern Conference semifinal series.
After they were up as many as 12 points and seemingly in control most of the first half, the Knicks were thoroughly outplayed over the final 24 minutes in a dismal 108-101 Game 1 loss to the Heat in front of a disappointed crowd at the sold-out Garden.
“There were key moments in the game where you need to finish strong and be strong, and that starts with me,” said Jalen Brunson, typically accountable after defeat. “Today I was horrific. Very uncharacteristic of me and this one’s on me. I got to get better.”
The Knicks shot just 7-for-34 from 3-point range after entering the series as the worst 3-point shooting team in the playoffs at 28.2 percent.
The Heat made the Knicks pay for their mistakes, such as not attacking a hobbled Butler in the final minutes and their 13 turnovers, which Miami turned into 22 points.
The Heat limited them to 11 second-chance points, more than seven points fewer than they averaged against the Cavaliers in the first round.
The Knicks were still within striking distance, down just three with 5:05 left, when Butler appeared to hurt his right ankle. But the Knicks managed just two points over the next 4:02, blowing any chance to come from behind. In hindsight, they should have attacked Butler more.
“We got to do a better job recognizing what’s going on, especially late in the game,” Brunson said.
Before hurting his ankle, Butler was typically brilliant, with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. He had plenty of help. Kyle Lowry scored 18 points off the bench, Gabe Vincent had 20 and Bam Adebayo added 16 points and seven rebounds, while controlling Mitchell Robinson in the paint.
Barrett had 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Knicks and Brunson added 25 points, but both struggled in big moments in the fourth quarter. Other than Obi Toppin, who started in place of Randle and went 4-for-11 from deep in scoring 18 points, the Knicks were 3-for-23 from long range. In the first round, they were similarly inaccurate. It didn’t start to bite them until the second half on Sunday.
That’s when the game turned as the Heat quickly took control. Miami scored 24 of the quarter’s first 31 points and led by as many as eight.
The Heat turned defensive rebounds into easy transition opportunities. Kevin Love repeatedly hit Butler on home run passes for easy baskets.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
- Vaccaro: Knicks’ failure to help Brunson is why their season’s over
- Knicks battle but fall in season-ending Game 6 loss to Heat
- Knicks couldn’t survive two minutes without Brunson
- Brunson’s heroic night spoiled by late turnover
Afterward, Love joked that he told new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, seated courtside, “I’ve got the best QBR in New York right now.”
Settling way too often, the Knicks were 2-for-13 from 3 in the quarter, leading to seven fast-break points for the Heat. In the second half, the Knicks were held to 46 points on 39.5 percent shooting.
“The thing is, the discrepancy on the 3s gives you a lot of ground to make up,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “They’re making 13 and we’re making seven.”
This obviously wasn’t how the Knicks wanted to start their first second-round series in a decade. It was a reminder that the Heat are not the Cavaliers. They are tougher, more poised and won’t get pushed around. Now Thibodeau’s team has to respond after trailing in a series for the first time this postseason.
“None of us are gonna waver. None of us are gonna lose confidence,” Josh Hart said. “Continue to build, be aggressive, take the right shots and hope they go in.”
Or, as Barrett said: “You have to go out there and take it.”
