Knicks routed by Heat in ugly Game 3 to fall behind in series

MIAMI — If this was a litmus test of where these teams stand when at full strength, the Knicks may not be long for these playoffs.

There wasn’t any one thing that did them in on Saturday afternoon, but that was the problem.

It was everything. It was their sloppy play at both ends of the floor.

It was their lack of energy and execution. It was their inability to defend the Heat and create quality shots. A healthy Jimmy Butler had his way with coach Tom Thibodeau’s team, but he was hardly the only one. Everyone wearing white enjoyed themselves.

This was a 48-minute beatdown, a one-sided setback in which the teams didn’t look like they should be sharing the same court. The Heat took Game 3 in convincing fashion, cruising to a 105-86 victory at Kaseya Center. The Knicks have 48 hours to figure out their myriad issues to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole Monday night.

With the game well in hand late in the third quarter, a minor pushing incident broke out, with Cody Zeller, Caleb Martin and Isaiah Hartenstein all being issued technical fouls.

It was a footnote to what was the Knicks’ worst performance of the postseason. They were again awful from 3-point range, making just 8 of 40 attempts, and they had no answer for Butler, who scored 28 points after missing Game 2 with an ankle injury. The Knicks were outrebounded for the first time in the series and were a step slow, beaten to loose balls all afternoon. They were outscored in the paint, 50-36, and allowed 18 second-chance points.

Julius Randle had as many turnovers (four) as made field goals in a shaky performance and Jalen Brunson missed 13 of 20 shots. The duo’s performance came in stark contrast to the Heat’s big two of Butler and Bam Adebayo. Adebayo was by far the best big man on the floor, notching 17 points, 12 rebounds and a block. Max Strus added 19 points for the Heat.

The Heat came out sharp, scoring on their first two possessions. The Knicks’ first three times down the court produced an air-ball and two turnovers, a bad sign of the two-and-a-half hours to follow.

Thibodeau used two timeouts in the first 7:29, but the stoppages didn’t help. The Heat led by 11 after the second timeout, and by as much as 18 early in the second quarter. Miami was sharper, quicker and far more accurate. The Knicks missed their first eight 3-pointers and went 2 of 16 from distance in the first 24 minutes. Brunson and RJ Barrett missed 11 of their first 15 shots.

It was 58-44 at the break, and really the Knicks could have been in worse shape after committing nine turnovers (four by Randle) and shooting 34 percent from the field. The Heat outscored them in the paint, 32-24, had more second-chance points (9-6) and literally were getting any shot they wanted.

The Knicks got as close as 11 early in the third quarter, but the Heat responded with a 12-2 run that served as a haymaker. The Knicks never really responded. The result from that point on was inevitable.