NBA

Knicks’ Big 3 come up empty in ugly Game 3 loss

MIAMI — The Knicks’ Big 3 came up so small in Game 3.

Tom Thibodeau’s team can withstand an off shooting night from one of its three leading scorers — Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett — but none of that trio got going offensively in Saturday’s 105-86 loss to the Heat.

In the Knicks’ season-low offensive output, Randle, Brunson and Barrett were limited to a combined 16-for-51 from the floor and 2-for-17 from 3-point range as the Knicks fell behind 2-1 in the series entering Monday’s Game 4.

“A lot of that starts with me,” said Brunson, who also had taken the Knicks’ Game 1 loss on his shoulders, branding that a “horrific” personal performance. “They’re a very paint-heavy team when you drive the ball offensively. They’re going to collapse.

“There’s a lot of eyes on me when I drive the ball, so I have to be able to find guys and get them in the right positions to take their shots. It starts with me, and I know I’ve said this before, I got to be better.”

Brunson, who scored 20 points (7-for-20) with seven assists, notably also appeared to twist the right ankle that landed him on the injury report as questionable ahead of Game 2.

Jalen Brunson reacts in pain after getting hit in the face during the Knicks’ 105-86 Game 3 loss to the Heat. It was a rough game for Brunson and his other Big 3 members, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

Thibodeau acknowledged that Brunson “may have tweaked” the injury, but the point guard insisted, “I’m all good and I’ll be ready for Game 4.”

Barrett had averaged 24.3 points over his previous four playoff games, but he shot 5-for-16 from the floor (14 points) and finished Game 3 a team-worst minus-31.

“We’ve seen their zone before, they played a lot of zone last game,” Barrett said. “Got to be smart, get into the middle, get into the gaps, make plays.

Julius Randle, who scored just 10 points, makes a jumping pass during the Knicks’ Game 3 loss. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

Randle finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds on Saturday, but he shot 4-for-15 and missed all five of his 3-point attempts.

He sat out the first game of the series with a recurrent ankle issue before returning for the Knicks’ Game 2 win at Madison Square Garden.

“Like I said, you all keep asking me. It does not matter. I’ll be available to play,” Randle said. “I get myself ready. In my mind, it’s not a factor. I’ve got to find a way to play better and get a win.”

RJ Barrett, who scored 14 points, had a -32 rating in the Knicks’ Game 3 defeat. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

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Asked about Randle’s performance and effort in Game 3, Thibodeau replied, “I thought defensively, we were solid, but I thought offensively we didn’t play the way we wanted to. I don’t put it on any one player, because I think it’s done collectively.”

Randle also was embroiled in a mini-scuffle after hitting the deck on a second-half foul by Cody Zeller — with Isaiah Hartenstein pushing the Heat’s backup center before Caleb Martin retaliated by shoving Hartenstein.

Randle dismissed that sequence as “not relevant” after the game. He was more concerned that the Knicks never could get on track offensively or go on a run to challenge the Heat in the second half.

“Yeah, that is what we do. Been able to do that all year. Today not so much,” Randle said. “But hopefully we can get back on the right track with that, find a way to make some shots the next game and come out with a win.”