MIAMI — The Knicks’ dominance at center was a major factor in their impressive first-round playoff victory over the Cavaliers.
It is holding them back so far, however, in Round 2 against the Heat.
Mitchell Robinson has yet to make an impact, and in Game 3, Miami’s Bam Adebayo was dominant, thoroughly outplaying Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Adebayo was one of the keys to Miami’s 105-86 rout of the Knicks, producing 17 points, 12 rebounds and a block.
Together, Robinson and Hartenstein combined for just two points and eight rebounds. Robinson played 14 minutes.
“He was just more physical,” Hartenstein said of Adebayo. “I think that’s always been a big thing for us. … I thought it was more on our end, we just weren’t locked in on certain moments. They got all the 50-50 balls, they were always there on rotation and I think we were always a step slow.”
The underwhelming play of the Knicks’ big men led coach Tom Thibodeau to go to a small-ball lineup in the fourth quarter, with Julius Randle and Obi Toppin up front.
It didn’t yield much in the way of positive results.
With 14.1 seconds left in the third quarter, tempers flared somewhat after an Immanuel Quickley basket.
Miami’s Cody Zeller pushed Randle to the ground and technical fouls were given to Zeller and Hartenstein, while the Heat’s Caleb Martin was assessed an unsportsmanlike technical foul.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
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- Brunson’s heroic night spoiled by late turnover
“I’m gonna protect my teammate, no matter what,” Harenstein said. “I saw him push Julius to the ground and no matter who it is, I’m always going to protect my teammate. That’s what I thought was necessary at that time.”
Asked about the incident, Randle said it wasn’t relevant to the game.
The Knicks have been outscored in eight of 12 quarters in this series. … Their 86 points were a playoff-low, and their fewest this season. … It was just the second time in eight playoff games the Knicks have been out-rebounded. They lost the battle on the boards, 50-48.
Fast Break
Hero
Sometimes the obvious answer is the right one.
Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler returned after missing Game 2 with a sprained ankle and scored a game-high 28 points in 36 minutes to help the Heat to a 2-1 series lead.
Zeroes
Take your pick, really, among the Knicks, who played a dreadful game, but their big three of leading scorers Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett shot a combined 16-for-51 from the floor and 2-for-17 from 3-point range.
Unsung hero
All-Star center Bam Adebayo was displeased with his Game 2 performance, but he outplayed the Knicks’ down-low combo of Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein on Saturday with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Robinson and Hartenstein combined for two points, eight boards and six personal fouls.
Key stat
20.3: The Knicks’ shooting percentage from 3-point range (15-for-74) in their two defeats this series, including 8-for-40 in Game 3.
In their lone win, they shot 40 percent from 3-point range (16-for-40).
— Peter Botte