Brunson (38 points in 48 minutes) was incredible in Game 5 Butler (19 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two blocks) has been gutting it out through his bad ankle, and they’ll both be the go-to options Friday night. INJURY WATCH: None of the main characters are 100% and most probably aren’t anywhere near 100%. Butler played 43 minutes for Miami in Game 5. In Game 5, Brunson and Grimes were the first teammates to play 48 minutes in a non-overtime playoff game since 2005, when Washington had Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes do it - also against Miami. That all means there are many ways for Miami to improve in Game 6, though the Heat know that New York will be incredibly desperate again in an effort to stave off elimination.

NEED TO KNOW: The Heat missed 30 3-pointers, got outrebounded 50-34, were outscored 59-30 over an 18-minute stretch of Game 5 - and still only lost to the Knicks by nine. If ‘Spo’ tells me to play 48 minutes, I will be suited and booted and ready to do that and we’ll win.” All 48 minutes, if more if you’re going into overtime. “I’m never surprised with anything come playoff basketball time,” Butler said. The Heat wasted a close-out chance in Game 5 at New York, but have a chance at home Friday to finish the series and get to the East finals for the third time in four years. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has raved about the level of competition in the Heat-Knicks series, and expects more of the same in Game 6.

“Friday is another opportunity for us to see who we are and see what we’re made of and to go out there with, I guess, the grit and the fight that we’ve had since we came together after the All-Star break.” “Every moment is its own challenge and its own game and its own opportunity to see what you’re made of,” Lakers forward LeBron James said. The Heat play host to New York, the Lakers play host to Golden State, both home clubs have 3-2 series leads and both visiting clubs staved off elimination with wins on Wednesday in their respective Game 5s.

It’s why Brunson and Grimes are playing 48 minutes, why Butler is playing through ankle soreness, why Golden State’s Stephen Curry is taking more shots per game - by a significant margin - than he ever has in a playoff run, and why the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis will likely play through whatever is ailing him after he had to leave early Wednesday night.įor two teams, Game 6 on Friday night is win-or-go-home for two others, it could be win-and-move-on to the conference finals.

When You Get the Chance by Tom Ryan