MIAMI — Quentin Grimes’ return to the beginning lineup got here with combined outcomes.
He hit as many 3-pointers Monday evening (three) as he had all postseason, however it didn’t assist the Knicks keep away from falling right into a 3-1 gap on this Japanese Convention semifinal collection.
Coach Tom Thibodeau reinserted Grimes into the beginning lineup after bringing him off the bench for the primary three video games of the collection.
It didn’t change the outcome, because the Knicks fell to the Warmth, 109-101, at Kaseya Heart and can face elimination Wednesday evening on the Backyard.
On his twenty third birthday, Grimes had two early turnovers and a dunk try blocked by Jimmy Butler, resulting in a Warmth basket.
He defended Butler (27 factors) many of the evening in his 33 minutes.
Thibodeau’s determination got here after Twitter consumer Matthew Z, who recognized himself as a enterprise supervisor for Grimes, had tweeted in help of him following the ugly Recreation 3 loss to the Warmth.
Matthew Z, who goes by the identify Matt Evans, posted “Free QG” on Saturday.
The account additionally replied Sunday to a Grimes spotlight video that was posted by one other consumer asking “what occurred to this Quentin Grimes? Bro used to play like Zach LaVine,” a reference to the All-Star guard of the Bulls.
“This Quentin Grimes is alive and effectively and nonetheless getting higher, ball ain’t in his palms to point out you higher than ,” Matthew Z tweeted.
Observe The Submit’s protection of the Knicks vs. Warmth NBA playoff collection
After Grimes suffered a contused proper shoulder in Recreation 3 in opposition to the Cavaliers within the opening spherical, he missed the next two video games.
He returned at first of the Warmth collection, however off the bench as Thibodeau went with Josh Hart as a starter as an alternative.
The 23-year-old, former first-round choose began 66 video games for the Knicks through the common season, and averaged 11.3 factors per sport whereas capturing 38.6 % from 3-point vary.
His offense had been largely nonexistent within the postseason, the 3-and-D guard averaging simply 4.3 factors and lacking 15 of 18 3-point makes an attempt coming into the sport.
However he’s a court-spacing, ball-mover who the Warmth need to account for on the perimeter.
Hart, extra of a slasher, was a key a part of the bench after coming over previous to the commerce deadline.
However that second unit suffered with out him, and it was additional weakened on Monday evening, because the Knicks have been with out Sixth Man of the Yr runner-up Immanuel Quickley because of a sprained left ankle.
Miles McBride changed Quickley with the bench unit within the first half, however didn’t play after halftime.
