How another early clash with the Heat could help Knicks in the long run

The Knicks view Monday’s game against the Heat in Miami as a valuable opportunity to prepare for the postseason.

It is the third time the Knicks have played the Heat in the first thirteen games this season, and the second in three days.

“It’s a good warm-up for the playoffs, practicing, playing the same team for two or three days,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after practice Sunday. “You’ve got to be ready for them to be able to adapt, be ready to do what they need to do as a coaching staff to counter what we’re doing and what we showed them the last game. It’ll be good for us to have some kind of playoff series style where we played them two days ago and now we’re about to play them again and at their home. It’s kind of those momentum shifts that you see in Game 2, 3 or 4 and 5 [of a playoff series]. It’s good for us to practice that.”

They split the first two matchups, winning each at home.

“Obviously we’ve played two games already, we’re already kind of familiar with it,” Josh Hart said. “You have to make adjustments. Of course [Heat coach Erik Spoelstra] goes to watch the game and he makes sure they are ready to go. It was a match with many goals [on Friday]so we expect the defense to improve, and the physicality to improve a little bit. It’s like a playoff series in a way. We played them three times in three weeks, so you know them. Now you try to make a few adjustments, a few counters.

Towns’ girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, revealed on Instagram that she tracked down his mother’s old car she had when he was a child, had it fixed up, shipped it across the country and gave it to him for his 30th birthday on Saturday.

Woods said Towns said he “loved that car.”

“She did something amazing,” Towns said. “I’m still shocked by it. It’s something fun, I can’t wait to drive it.”

“I’m still blown away by it. She’s one of a kind, what can I say. It was something special. I’m excited to drive it. It’s hard in New York to drive it now, but it will be fun in my life to drive that car around a lot.”

Miles McBride (personal reasons) is doubtful for Monday’s game. Bam Adebayo (sprained left big toe) and Tyler Herro (recovering from left ankle surgery) are out again for the Heat.