MIAMI — In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night, Karl-Anthony Towns erupted for an impressive 44 points and secured 12 rebounds, leading the New York Knicks to a comeback victory over the Miami Heat with a score of 116-107. Jalen Brunson contributed significantly, tallying 22 points, 18 of which came during a pivotal second half.

Towns’ performance ranks as one of the highest scoring outputs for a Knicks player against the Heat; he now joins the ranks of Jamal Crawford, Carmelo Anthony, and RJ Barrett, who have also set remarkable scoring records against Miami in past games. Mikal Bridges added another 17 points to the Knicks’ tally, and despite facing a 13-point deficit in the third quarter, New York managed to turn the game in their favor. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart were also notable contributors, with Hart finishing with 10 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.

On the opposing side, Miami’s Tyler Herro was the standout player, netting 34 points and drilling eight three-pointers. Terry Rozier followed with 16 points, while Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo chipped in with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Nikola Jovic also added 10 points to the Heat’s score. The team once again played without Kevin Love, who has yet to participate this season due to personal issues.

For the Knicks, Towns displayed exceptional shooting precision, converting 17 of 24 field goal attempts and hitting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. A significant portion of his points came in the first half, ensuring that New York remained competitive throughout the game. In contrast, Miami’s dynamic duo of Butler and Adebayo has struggled in first quarters this season, combining for a mere 2 of 13 shooting.

The turning point of the match came at the end of the third quarter, where the Knicks surged with a stunning 30-10 run, transforming a 70-57 deficit into an 87-80 lead by the time the quarter concluded.

A striking statistic from the game reveals that in Miami’s three home games this season, opponents have outscored them 100 to 54 during the third quarter. The visiting teams have shot an impressive 54% during this stretch, while the Heat have struggled with just 27%.

Looking ahead, the Knicks will travel to Detroit for their next game on Friday, part of a four-game road trip. Meanwhile, Miami is set to face off against Washington in Mexico City on Saturday night.