NEW YORK _ The Knicks, who entered on a 22-win pace, are usually the ultimate panacea for opponents, but not for the Heat, which on Sunday found a way to squander a late lead for a second consecutive game.
Ahead 106-98 with 6:56 left and then up by seven with four minutes to go, the Heat unraveled against one of the league's worst teams, falling 124-121 in Miami's worst loss of the season.
Against a dreadful team missing its best player this season (Marcus Morris), the Heat was too permissive defensively, especially around the basket, allowing the Knicks to shoot 52% from the field.
New York, down by 10 points after three, scored 40 points in the final quarter, handing the Heat a second consecutive loss for the first time this season.
"We just were not able to protect the rim and they were very persistent with it and that is something that has been troubling us of late," Erik Spoelstra said. "We need to get back to Miami and get back to work and find solutions. Our defense is clearly much better than what we've shown the last two games."
Julius Randle's three gave the Knicks their first lead of the second half at 116-114 with 2:16 to go.. James Johnson put the Heat back ahead with a three, but the Knicks went back ahead for good with 1:38 left.
New York fouled Jimmy Butler on a three, and he made the first two free throws but missed the third, leaving the Heat down 122-121 with 21 seconds left.
After the Knicks' RJ Barrett made one of two free throws, Butler missed a driving layup. Miami retained possession, but Butler's pass to Bam Adebayo, under the basket, bounced off Adebayo's stomach with 2.7 seconds left and Barrett again made one of two free throws to account for the final score.
"You can always second guess, because it didn't go how you want it, but I saw Jimmy with two feet in the paint with a collapsing defense," Spoelstra said. "We'll take our chances on that. We're not going to design something that's going to be more creative or better than that."
Time expired just before Adebayo hit a turnaround three that would have tied the game.
The Heat entered fifth in the league in shooting at 47.6% (and second in three-point shooting at 37.6) and blitzed a Knicks team that has been porous defensively in recent games, closing at 53.6% from the field and 40% on threes (14 for 35).
Butler led the way with 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and he got plenty of help, from Adebayo (15 points), Kendrick Nunn (20), James Johnson (19) and Tyler Herro (15).
But Miami's defense was far too lax, and the Heat _ which led 60-55 at the half and 94-84 after three- returns home at 27-12.
