The Miami Heat’s struggles continued Monday night as they suffered a 116-95 loss to the New York Knicks, marking the first eight-game losing streak of Erik Spoelstra’s career.
After the game, Spoelstra acknowledged the team’s struggles but refused to vent his frustrations. “I’m not going to go on a rant,” he told reporters. “I have not come up with enough answers for this team. I have to do a better job. Our team has to do a better job.”
The loss dropped Miami to 29-39 on the season, sliding them to 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Heat now find themselves battling to hold onto a Play-In Tournament spot with only a few weeks remaining in the regular season.
Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 28 points, while Josh Hart recorded his eighth triple-double of the season with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 points, sparking a second-quarter run that helped New York take control after falling behind early.
Miami’s Duncan Robinson scored a team-high 22 points, and Tyler Herro added 20, but the Heat faltered in the third quarter when the Knicks used a 24-6 run to take an 88-64 lead. New York went on to complete a 3-0 season sweep over Miami.
The Heat now face a crucial stretch as they attempt to snap their skid and secure a Play-In spot. With Spoelstra searching for solutions, Miami will need a strong response to avoid slipping further in the standings.
