MIAMI — The Knicks consider themselves a tough group.
A tight group.
A group at its best when facing adversity.
Capable of digging deep when everything is working against them and proving their detractors wrong.
Monday night, they get to prove it.
They get to show it.
They can erase the ugly memory of Saturday afternoon’s 19-point loss and even this series.
Game 4 is as close to a must-win as it gets.
“The bottom line,” coach Tom Thibodeau said on Sunday, “is we all have to play a lot better.”
That is clear.
That is obvious.
Game 3 was the Knicks’ worst performance of the postseason — and one of their worst efforts of the season.
They scored a season-low 86 points.
They lost the rebounding battle for the first time this series.
They were crushed in the paint and made only 8 of 40 3-point attempts.
Most concerning, they were outworked, repeatedly beaten to loose balls.
“Typically the most aggressive team wins,” Julius Randle said. “They [had] more of an edge coming off a loss, so hopefully we come out like that [on Monday].”
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
They better, or they will be staring down elimination Wednesday at the Garden.
The Knicks badly need to figure out their offensive issues.
The numbers through three games are not pretty: an offensive rating of 105.3 points per 100 possessions and 99.3 points per game, both the worst of any of the eight teams left in the postseason.
The Knicks are shooting 27.2 percent from 3-point range this round, better than only the Suns, and 41.2 percent overall.
They are making 56.9 percent of their attempts from 5 feet and in, down from their regular-season mark of 63.1.
Their 19.3 assists is also down from their 22.3 average during the year.
“Their defense is very good,” Thibodeau said of the Heat. “There’s going to be two and three guys around you, and then you’ve got to read the game and just trust the pass.”
After the Game 3 loss, Josh Hart said the Knicks had to play faster, and on Sunday RJ Barrett, Randle and Thibodeau all agreed.
“It’s very important. [Play with] pace, get some easy buckets and even in half-court play [with] more pace, make their defense have to work a little harder,” Barrett said. “It will be very important for us.”
Obviously, that’s easier said than done.
The Knicks aren’t forcing the Heat to turn it over much — Miami is averaging only nine turnovers per game in the series — limiting the Knicks’ transition opportunities.
They have just 27 total fast-break points through three games.
Nothing has been easy for them, and finding a way to win Monday night certainly won’t be, either.
They may not have super-sub Immanuel Quickley moving forward as he deals with a sprained left ankle, weakening the Knicks’ troublesome second unit.
Quickley is listed as doubtful.
Everything is pointing in the Heat’s direction now.
They have been the better team.
In Jimmy Butler, they have the best player.
But one victory would change everything.
The Knicks came to Miami needing one win to maintain home-court advantage.
They can still get it.
“I think we’re confident. It’s just, we gotta execute,” Randle said. “Come out with a certain level of aggression, physicality and find a way to win a game. It’s not going to be easy.”
