With an injured Julius Randle in the locker room and Jalen Brunson playing less than 100 percent, Tom Thibodeau turned to a seldom-used top five to close out the Knicks’ important win over the Heat on Wednesday night.
Thibodeau used the same five players — starters Quentin Grimes and RJ Barrett and sophomores Immanuel Quickley, Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein — throughout the fourth quarter as the Knicks whittled down their magic number to clinch a playoff berth 101-92. Beat Miami in the Garden.
Brunson, in his first game, was called from the scorer’s table midway through the quarter after two outs with a sprained right hand.
“The game kind of went right there, so we had a lot of guys playing roles that they’re not used to, in positions, but we handled it well, I thought,” Thibodeau said. “We had just blown a five-point lead, so I wanted to see where it would go. And I felt we got into a good rhythm.
“Jalen’s stuff is always the team first, I told him let’s see the next few minutes, how it goes, and that’s where we ran and that’s where we came out. Some nights it’s like that.”
Jalen Brunson (left) celebrates on the bench during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 101-92 win over the Heat. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Thibodeau said he was happy to hear ESPN announced that Spurs coaching legend Gregg Popovich will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023, which will be officially announced this weekend at the Final Four in Houston.
“I think what he’s done in the league is, again, the mark of greatness,” Thibodeau said before the game. “We were talking about (Heat president) Pat (Riley). Same thing with Pop.
“Being at that level for as long as he has, and obviously he’s a great leader, and he’s done a tremendous job. You know what they stand for, but also to do it with the humility he has, I think that really stood out.”
Out-of-rotation veteran Derrick Rose was absent for the second straight game.