“Has McBride Ever Taken that Shot? Does He Practice that Shot?” Miami 115 NY 113

November 19, 2025 LouV 2025-26 0
KAT vs Ware. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

Miles McBride came down court with 7.8 seconds left and a chance to tie the game, surprised and blew past the Miami defense to the basket, and .. flipped up a runner in the general vicinity of the rim as 7-footer Kel’el Ware came over to defend. McBride’s shot missed badly, but Karl-Anthony Towns was there for the offensive rebound — as if by design. Miami defenders collapsed on him instantly — he launched up a fadeaway jumper from the baseline while falling down — and missed as the buzzer sounded. Ballgame over. Miami 115 NY 113.

On a Monday night in Miami.

Ware had just blocked a KAT game-tying shot inside with 8 seconds left — the refs called goal tending but then reviewed it and changed their ruling, causing a jump ball between KAT and Ware at center court — KAT winning the jump and tipping it to McBride with the 7.8 seconds left.

Afterwards, Wally Szczerbiak and Alan Hahn were defending McBride’s shot, saying it was strategic as it drew Ware and allowed KAT to get the offensive rebound. But at home, most Knick fans — like RJBarrett_Enthusiast — were wondering “who gave Miles clearance to take that shot, has he ever taken that shot, does he practice that shot?” in their best Patrick Ewing.

McBride had a great game — 25 pts on 10-23 shooting (5-12 from 3) including big 3’s in the final 2 minutes to pull NY back from a 10-pt deficit. But Miami stifled Karl-Anthony Towns and Landry Shamet, who had big nights in the prior game between the teams, a Knick win Friday night. The hero for Miami was the skinny, athletic 7-foot Kel’el Ware.

Afterwards Ware said, “I mean I couldn’t let what happen last game happen this game, so I came out here to try my best and do more with the rebounding to be more effective down there.”

NY falls to 8-5; Miami improves to 8-6.

1. Heat Clamp Down on KAT & Shamet; Knicks Clamp on Powell

NY had just beaten Miami on Friday night at Madison Square Garden — a game in which Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points in the 1st half en route to 39 in the game, and Landry Shamet was the hero in the 2nd half, totaling 36 points in all.

Miami and coach Eric Spoelstra made adjustments — clamping down on KAT and Shamet from the start. KAT had a poor shooting game and was 0-7 at one point from 3 until hitting an important one late (see last section below). KAT finished with 22 pts but on 7-19 shooting. Part of the reason was the play of skinny but athletic 7-footer Kal’el Ware — who had a much better game than Friday night — hounding KAT and scoring 16 points with 14 rebounds and 3 blocks.

NBA Analyst Ross Kreines noted, “Tweeted this below on Kel’el Ware during summer league in 2024. Kel’el has the length, athleticsm along with a real nice skillset but what takes his game and the Heats game to another level is when his motor is fully running , taking no play for granted and being fully engaged.”

Ross was referring to a July, 2024 post on Ware, in which he noted “Kel’el Ware has the skillset, length, athleticism but what you love seeing is the motor and being fully engaged. He’s running the floor hard, active on the glass, finishing strong at the rim and also challenging everything at the rim. Also, showing patience when working in the low post.”

Miami also made sure Landry Shamet didn’t go off like Friday night — he was limited to 10 pts on 2-11 shooting, and 1-7 from 3.

And thereby went the game for NY — KAT and Shamet going 2-14 from 3 and the Knicks not having Jalen Brunson, still out with an ankle injury.

NY meanwhile made sure Norman Powell — who went off on them Friday night — was under wraps. And he was most of the game until the 4th quarter; Powell finished with 19 pts on 9-20 shooting, 0-3 from 3.

2. Close 1st Half — Miami Leads 55-51

So all of that made it a close game throughout — NY without Brunson; Miami without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

Miles McBride stepped up with a terrific game — 25 pts on 10-23 shooting (5-12 from 3), Mikal Bridges had 23 pts on 9-14 shooting (2-4 from 3), Jordan Clarkson had 14 pts off the bench on 7-13 shooting (0-3 from 3) as did Josh Hart — 14 pts on 6-11 shooting (0-3 from 3).

A Jordan Clarkson pass-on-the-break to Mikal Bridges for a drive gave NY a 30-28 lead in the 2nd quarter.

Miami got 18 pts from Davion Mitchell, 14 pts from Simone Fontecchio, and 13 pts from Jaime Jaquez Jr.

The game went back and forth; Miami led by 55-51 at the half.

3. Miami Leads 83-82 After 3 Quarters

The game stayed close in the 3rd quarter.

A Mikal Bridges steal and slam with 8:15 left in the quarter pulled NY within 65-63, Miami with a 2-pt lead.

Miami entered the 4th up 83-82.

4. Miami Run Gives them 10-Pt Lead with 3 Minutes Left

Mitchell Robinson was a BEAST on the boards as usual — 11 rebounds, 5 offensive, in 18 minutes. He Dominated play at start of the 4th on the boards.

The game stayed close — a Miles McBride ahead-of-the-field dunk gave NY a 97-94 lead with 7:44 left.

But then Miami went on a run

  • Davion Mitchel with a 3,
  • Norman Powell with a drive countered by a Jordan Clarkson drive,
  • a Davion Mitchell drive-and-1,
  • a Norm Powell floater,
  • a Davion Mitchell drive made it, and
  • a Kel’el Ware drive-and-1 gave Miami 108-99 lead with 4:05 left.

KAT countered with a drive and 1 but a Kel’el Ware dunk and Norman Powell step-back put Miami up by 10, 112-102 with 3:10 left.

5. McBride 3’s Get Knicks Back

The game looked over — but the Knicks pushed back: Miles McBride hit consecutive 3’s and KAT hit 2 free throws to make it a 112-110 game Miami with a minute left.

6. KAT Finally Hits a 3

But Norm Powell hit a drive and Miami was up 114-110 with under a minute to go. Landry Shamet missed a pullup with 28 seconds left — but Josh Hart grabbed a HUGE offensive rebound and fed KAT — who Finally hit a 3. Miami 114 NY 113 with 28 seconds left.

7. “Missed It by That Much”

Davian Mitchell made 1 of 2 free throws, and NY was down by 2 points with 21 seconds left. After a timeout, NY got the ball to Miles McBride who missed an 18-footer but Karl-Anthony Towns got the offensive rebound, and took a 5 footer — BLOCKED by Kel’el Ware.

The officials called goal tending — then reviewed it themselves and ruled it a clean block. It was the play of the game.

After the review, a jump ball at midcourt between Ware and KAT was won by KAT — Miles McBride fetching the ball and coming up court for the final play — taking a shot he may or may not have ever practiced before. KAT with the offensive rebound and miss from the left side for the old ballgame.

 

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810099

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