It was the first time the Knicks had been to the Eastern Conference semifinals in a decade.
A Knicks season that began with mild expectations and turned into what some fans called the team’s most exciting run in more than 20 years ended Friday night with a 96-92 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
After the Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks — the East’s No. 1 seed and the N.B.A. title favorites — in the first round, a path to the Eastern Conference finals for the Knicks seemed plausible. The fifth-seeded Knicks had just defeated the Cavaliers, the talented fourth seed led by guard Donovan Mitchell. In contrast, the Heat arrived in the second round without guard Tyler Herro, who averaged 20.1 points per game in the regular season but broke his hand against the Bucks.
But as the Knicks’ series with Miami began, the difference between these two teams became clear: The Heat have a legitimate star player in Jimmy Butler, who can will his team to victories seemingly when he chooses. The Knicks do not.
Most N.B.A. fans have likely gotten used to Butler elevating his game in the playoffs, and this postseason he has followed suit. He gashed the Knicks with high-scoring games and stellar defensive efforts. He was averaging 24.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game against the Knicks going into Game 6.
A six-time All-Star, Butler often plays to that level during the regular season but has been arguably the best player in these playoffs, leading a group that features undrafted starters who many casual N.B.A. fans might have to Google search to know.
On the other hand, the Knicks’ best players, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, have fluctuated between looking formidable enough to lead this team to the Eastern Conference finals and looking unequipped for this stage.
