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Game 4 isn’t a must-win for the Knicks, but it’s as close as it can be to being one.

On Saturday, the Heat secured a 19-point win in Miami and a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

For the Knicks to even things up and avoid being pushed to the brink of elimination, they’ll have to do better than the season-low 86 points they put up in the loss.

“The bottom line,” coach Tom Thibodeau said on Sunday, “is we all have to play a lot better.”

That may not include Immanuel Quickly, the third-year guard who has emerged as one of the team’s top bench options, as he deals with a sprained left ankle and is listed as “doubtful.”

Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series

Heat simply beating Knicks at own game in devastating reversal

By Mike Vaccaro

MIAMI — The thing that will haunt the Knicks all summer long, barring some kind of profound turnaround, will not be the Heat’s 3-point shooting, even if there are stretches of these games when it seems they won’t ever miss again.

It won’t even be Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, as good as they are, as good as they were, as well as they’ve played, the two of them combining for 50 points Monday, with Butler adding 10 assists and Adebayo 13 rebounds, powering the Heat to the brink of the Eastern Conference finals with this 108-101 victory.

No. This is what will irk them, preoccupy them, keep them up at night in July and August and all the way to training camp, thinking back at this series:

They have been outworked.

They have been outhustled.

They have played the regular stooge to Miami’s smarter, savvier, crisper approach.

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More officiating criticism

By Jared Schwartz

Josh Hart joined teammate Julius Randle in criticizing the officiating:

Josh Hart was asked about the frustration with the foul calls tonight:

"What you think? Did you see them? I think you could see from my reaction" pic.twitter.com/86lhrFoS9K

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2023

Jalen Brunson on what needs to change

By Jared Schwartz

Jalen Brunson spoke about what needs to change as the Knicks now look to stave off elimination going back home:

"Everything. Long story short. We need to be better, I need to be better"

- Jalen Brunson on what needs to change from Games 3 and 4 pic.twitter.com/e7rg9kYszN

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2023

Julius Randle criticizes officiating

By Jared Schwartz

Julius Randle was not happy with the officiating in Game 4.

He fouled out midway during the fourth quarter.

"That was tough. As far as officiating, that's one of the toughest games I've been a part of. Usually the physicality in the playoffs is up"

- Julius Randle on the frustrations with foul calls tonight pic.twitter.com/U2cErn7ksb

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2023

Julius Randle on Knicks' rebounding woes

By Jared Schwartz

And here's what Julius Randle had to say about the team's rebounding struggles when asked by The Post's Peter Botte:

"Maybe they want it more. I don't know. That's who we've been all year and we've gotta find a way to step up and make those plays if we want to keep this season alive"

- Julius Randle on the Heat being the team to come up with offensive rebounds and loose balls pic.twitter.com/wqaJpoAcpj

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2023

Tom Thibodeau on Knicks' rebounding woes

By Jared Schwartz

The Knicks were out-rebounded 44-35 by the Heat, including surrendering a few critical offensive rebounds to kill any hopes of a comeback in the fourth quarter.

Here's what Tom Thibodeau had to say about the rebounding struggles:

Tom Thibodeau talks about the Knicks' problems with offensive rebounds in the 4th quarter:

"They're shooting long, we're running in, ball's going over our head" pic.twitter.com/XbjsN5GTTJ

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2023

Quentin Grimes couldn’t provide Knicks spark in Game 4 loss to Heat

By Zach Braziller

MIAMI — Quentin Grimes’ return to the starting lineup came with mixed results. 

He hit as many 3-pointers Monday night (three) as he had all postseason, but it didn’t help the Knicks avoid falling into a 3-1 hole in this Eastern Conference semifinal series. 

Coach Tom Thibodeau reinserted Grimes into the starting lineup after bringing him off the bench for the first three games of the series.

It didn’t change the result, as the Knicks fell to the Heat, 109-101, at Kaseya Center and will face elimination Wednesday night at the Garden. 

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History not on Knicks' side

By Jared Schwartz

History is not exactly on the Knicks' side.

They've never come back to win a series after trailing 3-1, while the Heat have never lost a series after being up 3-1.

The Heat take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Knicks.

The Heat are 14-0 all-time when leading a best-of-7 series 3-1.

The Knicks are 0-14 all-time when trailing a best-of-7 series 3-1. pic.twitter.com/dvS54IRRtS

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 9, 2023

Knicks struggle on the boards

By Jared Schwartz

After dominating the Cavaliers on the glass, the Knicks have struggled in the rebounding department against the Cavaliers.

The Knicks were out-rebounded 44-35 by the Heat, and Miami used multiple offensive rebounds to kill the game off in the fourth quarter.

Bam Adebayo led the way for the Heat with 13 rebounds.

Knicks' bench comes up empty

By Jared Schwartz

The Knicks' bench, which had been a strength for much of the season and the beginning of the playoffs, came up empty again.

The unit was outscored 32-10 by the Heat's bench.

It's been a glaring problem for the Knicks against the Heat.

Knicks pushed to brink of elimination after Game 4 loss to Heat

By Peter Botte

MIAMI – The Knicks knew they had to play harder, shoot straighter and defend tighter than they had in their woeful previous game against the Heat to have a chance to even up the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Even making those improvements weren’t enough for the Knicks to pull out their most pivotal game of the season, however, pushing them into a 3-1 series hole and to the brink of elimination following a 109-101 loss Monday in Game 4 at Kaseya Center.

Tom Thibodeau’s team will get its first chance to extend the season Wednesday night at the Garden.

Jimmy Butler fronted the Heat again with 27 points and 10 assists, while All-Star center Bam Adebayo enjoyed another dominant game inside against Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein, finishing with 23 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

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Knicks fall to 3-1 series deficit

By Jared Schwartz

The Knicks will return back home staring at a 3-1 series deficit.

They fell to the Heat 109-101 in Game 4.

Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 32 points, while RJ Barrett added 24 for the Knicks.

Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 27 points while Bam Adebayo added 23.

Game 5 is on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

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