Heat take 3-1 series lead on Knicks: Can New York make it a series as Miami keeps finding a way?

The Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks 109-101 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, taking a 3-1 series lead. Here’s what you need to know:

• Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler posted a team-high 27 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
• Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 32 points, 11 assists and four rebounds.
• Game 5 is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

Backstory

Entering Monday night, Butler was averaging the second-most points per game during the playoffs with 34.4, adding 6.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals on 56 percent from the field. Bam Adebayo stepped up for Miami on Monday as well, dropping a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double.

RJ Barrett chipped in 24 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Knicks. New York All-Star Julius Randle fouled out with 3:08 remaining in the fourth quarter on an offensive foul. Randle added 20 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Miami just keeps finding a way

The Heat are one win away from becoming the first No. 8 seed to reach the conference finals since the 1999 New York Knicks. It wasn’t another spectacular performance from Butler or a defensive masterpiece that got it done on Monday night. Miami just keep finding ways to win, like they’ve done over and over again under Erik Spoelstra.

With one more win, Miami will reach the conference finals for the third time in Butler’s four years with the Heat. He had another strong performance in Monday’s win, finishing with 27 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. His understanding of the moment and what it takes to win on the biggest stage continues to be at a high level. — Guillory

What was up with the rebounding?

There was a point when the Heat seemed like they would grab every single one of their own missed shots. That point was the entire fourth quarter, when the Knicks didn’t stand a chance on the defensive boards. That was supposed to be the part of the game New York could control.

Miami was not an aggressive offensive rebounding team during the regular season. The Knicks, meanwhile, live on the glass. But even when Mitchell Robinson was in the game, the Heat kept flocking to loose balls or skying into the paint unimpeded.

Miami grabbed 13 offensive boards in the game and seven in the final period. It made the difference. — Katz

How can the Knicks make this a series again?

They need to get back to what they do well. The Knicks pulverized teams on the glass during the regular season, but that went the other way in Game 4.

They won the turnover battle on most nights. They were minus-four in Game 4. This team vaulted to third in the NBA in points per possession during the regular season because it so frequently won the possession game, but that’s not happening against Miami, and it could lead to New York’s demise. — Katz

Highlight of the game

Key stats

The Heat out-rebounded the Knicks 44-35, with a 13-8 advantage on the offensive glass. Miami also had 28 assists on 40 made field goals.

Required reading

(Photo: Sam Navarro / USA Today)