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Can the Knicks keep their season alive?

Their once feel-good season is close to going up in smoke as they try to stave off elimination, staring down a 3-1 deficit entering Game 5 of the second round of the NBA playoffs against the Heat at MSG Wednesday night.

The Knicks hung around in Game 4 and shot the ball much better, but their inability to grab defensive rebounds down the stretch cost them dearly.

“Maybe they want it more,” Knicks star Julius Randle said of the Heat after the Knicks’ Game 4 loss. “I don’t know.”

Will the Knicks be able to slow down the Heat enough?

Will their bench give them a spark after a rough Game 4?

Follow along for live updates from Knicks vs. Heat Game 5.

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

All business after win

By Jared Schwartz

The Knicks remained all business after their Game 5 win.

They know all it did was stave off elimination, and now they have to find a way to win in Miami to keep their season alive.

Here's what Jalen Brunson said about the team's mentality after the win:

"There's nothing really to celebrate. We obviously won and we get to see another day. This was great but we have to get one down there."

- Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/bjHPdC3UPY

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 11, 2023

RJ Barrett came up big in Knicks’ season-saving victory over Heat

By Brian Lewis

The playoffs are revealing, the prospect of elimination even more so.

What they’ve shown about RJ Barrett is nothing but positive.

The Knicks came into Wednesday’s second-round Game 5 playing for their postseason lives, and Barrett helped keep them breathing for another day.

He’s been their most consistent player in this series not named Jalen Brunson, and helped guide them to a 112-103 must-have victory before a sellout crowd of 19,812 at the Garden.

Barrett finished with 26 points on 8 of 17 shooting, finding the rare weak spots in Miami’s defense.

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Crazy stat

By Jared Schwartz

Both Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes played all 48 minutes in the Knicks' Game 5 win.

It's the first time since 1972 the Knicks had two players play all 48 minutes of a non-overtime playoff game:

The last time the Knicks had two players play all 48 minutes of a non-overtime playoff game was April 23, 1972 against Boston. Brunson and Grimes both went the distance tonight.

— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) May 11, 2023

Mitchell Robinson on late free throws

By Jared Schwartz

Mitchell Robinson has struggled from the free throw line throughout the playoffs.

Near the end of Game 5, the Heat began hacking him and sending him to the line as they looked to mount a comeback.

It was unsuccessful, as Robinson knocked down multiple crucial free throws in crunch time.

Here's what he said about them following the win:

"I'm knocking these down." 🥶

Mitchell Robinson reacts to the Miami Heat's failed Hack-a-Mitch strategy.

We love you @23savage____pic.twitter.com/2gQLHDDkno

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) May 11, 2023

Julius Randle shakes off slow start to deliver for Knicks with season on line

By Peter Botte

Julius Randle hardly resembled the third-team All-NBA player he’d been feted as earlier on Wednesday, drawing some boos and groans from the home crowd as most of his shot attempts failed to find the net in the first quarter.

But the team’s leading scorer helped prove that he and the Knicks “wanted it more” than the Heat on this night — and wanted their season to stay alive for at least one more game — by providing a massive lift in the second half in the Knicks’ 112-103 victory to draw within 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals and force Game 6 on Friday in Miami.

Randle, who had drawn criticism for suggesting “maybe they want it more” after the Heat dominated the Knicks on the boards in Game 4 on Monday, scored 21 of his 24 points following a quiet first quarter. He also finished with five assists over 36 minutes.

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Jalen Brunson on Game 5 win

By Jared Schwartz

Jalen Brunson was blunt when describing what the Knicks' Game 5 win meant and his own performance:

Julius Randle on swollen eye

By Jared Schwartz

And listen to what Julius Randle had to say about his swollen eye after the game.

"Price of war, I guess."

Julius Randle's swollen eye

By Jared Schwartz

Julius Randle took an elbow to the face from Bam Adebayo in the first quarter.

Take a look at his swollen eye after the Knicks' Game 5 win:

A look at Julius Randles’ swollen right eye. He took an elbow from Bam Adebayo in the first quarter.

“Price of war, I guess”#Knickspic.twitter.com/ukBhDcxu5L

— Jared Schwartz (@jschwartz115) May 11, 2023

Knicks keep season alive

By Jared Schwartz

The Knicks' season remains alive.

They beat the Heat 112-103 in Game 5.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 38 points, RJ Barrett poured in 26 as well.

Game 6 is on Friday in Miami.

Nail-biter in crunch time

By Jared Schwartz

The Knicks lead 103-98 with 3:31 left in the game.

Some late-game heroics from Duncan Robinson have brought the Heat within striking distance.

Can the Knicks hold on?

Getting tight

By Jared Schwartz

The Heat are now behind by just four.

They trail 95-91 with just under seven minutes left in the game.

Heat cutting into lead

By Jared Schwartz

The Heat have cut into the Knicks' lead a bit to start the fourth quarter.

The Knicks now lead 92-85 with 8:30 left in the game.

Tom Thibodeau called a timeout to try to get the Knicks regrouped after Kyle Lowry made a 3-pointer.

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