Knicks-Heat Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Jan 27 2012 6:23PM

A multitude of injuries to Carmelo Anthony could further hamper the New York Knicks as they try to break out of a rough stretch.

Visiting the Miami Heat as Dwyane Wade returns likely won't make things any easier.

With Anthony ruled out, the struggling Knicks might have a particularly hard time Friday night getting a third consecutive victory over a Heat team which is welcoming Wade back to the lineup.

Losers in seven of its last eight games and still seeking cohesiveness, New York (7-11) could be the NBA's biggest early disappointment.

"I can't really put my finger on it right now," Anthony said. "I can't figure it out."

In addition to a sprained wrist and ankle, Anthony also is now dealing with an injured right thumb. The Knicks said Friday morning that he was going to be shut down for a few days, meaning he will miss at least this game and Saturday's visit to Houston.

The thumb injury plagued Anthony on Tuesday as he went 0 for 7 from the field and finished with one point during a 111-78 rout of Charlotte. The next night at Cleveland, he scored 15 points while shooting 5 of 14. While his performance was a bit better, the Knicks could not overcome another subpar game from their star and lost 91-81.

"There's no frustration," Anthony said of his health. "I'm thinking about my body. There's a lot going through my mind right now. It's a tough situation right now due to the circumstances, but I'll get it figured out. I'll tell you that."

Anthony's 29 points keyed a 91-86 win at Miami on Feb. 27 in the most recent matchup between these teams, a game that came less than a week after the Knicks acquired him from Denver. New York won the final two meetings with the Heat in last season's series after dropping the first two.

Despite coming off consecutive games in which they scored more than 110 points, the Knicks were held below 90 for the fifth time in nine games Wednesday. Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds, but the Knicks scored only 36 in the second half and committed 22 turnovers overall at Cleveland.

"We've got to find a way to score," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We're not scoring the basketball."

That challenge gets tougher against the Heat (13-5), who have given up an average of 91.8 points while winning five of their last six.

"We're getting there," Miami forward Shane Battier said.

Miami has been succeeding without Wade, who has missed the last six games with a sprained ankle. However, he participated in Friday morning's shootaround, and the team announced later in the day that he would return for this game.

Wade averaged 28.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in the four meetings with New York last season.

LeBron James made six straight free throws in the final 1:19 and finished with 32 points Wednesday as Miami recovered after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to win 101-98 at Detroit.

"We've got to close out games," James said. "We know we're going to get the best shot from everybody. To be able to be down late in the game and then come back and win, it was good stuff for us."

James had 32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 113-91 victory at New York on Dec. 17, 2010, in his first game against the Knicks as a member of the Heat.

Chris Bosh, averaging 28.8 points in his last four contests, averaged 21.3 and 9.7 rebounds in three games versus New York in 2010-11.

James, Wade lead Heat over Knicks, 99-89

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Jan 28 2012 12:19AM

MIAMI (AP) The New York Knicks, they were all about the 3's. The Miami Heat, they welcomed back No. 3.

Advantage, Heat.

LeBron James scored 31 points, Dwyane Wade - he of that No. 3 jersey - scored 28 in his return from a sprained right ankle, and the Heat topped the 3-point-obsessed Knicks 99-89 on Friday night. Chris Bosh scored 13 points and James finished with eight rebounds and seven assists for Miami, which plays host to Chicago on Sunday in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference finals.

"Real nice to be back," Wade said. "Felt great. Felt great."

Bill Walker scored 21 points for New York, which took 43 shots from 3-point range, the most in the NBA this season and a total that had the Knicks flirting with Dallas' NBA record of 49 set in 1996. The Knicks connected on 18 from beyond the arc, Walker making seven of them.

Toney Douglas scored 16 points, Landry Fields had 14 and Amare Stoudemire finished with 12 for New York, which tried more 3's than 2-point shots (41).

"We shot a lot of 3's, but we did hit a bunch of them, which kept us in there," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We just couldn't sustain it all the way through. Give them credit, they're good."

Wade shot 11 for 19 from the field in his return, after missing six games with the ankle issue, plus putting up five steals, four assists and two blocks. The Heat - who have won eight of nine games without Wade so far this season - were outscored 54-6 from 3-point range, but held the Knicks to 36 percent shooting and only 18 points in the final quarter.

"It's a nice welcome back for that young kid, No. 3," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

So while the Heat were healthier, the Knicks were ailing. New York played without Carmelo Anthony, who expects to miss at least two games while dealing with ankle, thumb and wrist problems. D'Antoni said Anthony would not return before Tuesday, so barring a change of plans that would rule him out of New York's game at Houston on Saturday.

"This was a game for us to win," Knicks center Tyson Chandler said. "We were right there. Just down the stretch they changed their coverages. We had them. ... It was open and our game for the taking, but obviously they were the better team."

Wade and James went on a highlight display in the first quarter, setting each other up for dunks in the opening minutes and combining for five slams in Miami's first seven field goals. Wade showed no rust from his layoff, scoring eight points in the first nine minutes.

Miami went to the rim. The Knicks stayed outside - way outside.

D'Antoni said before the game that the Knicks simply had to manufacture more offense. Hence, the game plan - shoot 3's, and shoot them in bunches.

Of New York's first 33 shots, 19 were from 3-point range. That's right: The Knicks had exactly two 2-pointers in the first 15-plus minutes. Over a stretch of nearly 6 minutes in the first half, the Knicks had 13 consecutive 3-point attempts, nothing inside the arc.

Desperate times, desperate measures, perhaps.

By halftime, the Knicks had tried 23 from long range - the most in the NBA this season and the most ever in a first half against Miami.

"We treated everybody as Ray Allen," Spoelstra said, referring to the Boston guard who is widely considered the league's best spot-up 3-point shooter. "That's what we kept on saying. That is Ray Allen out there. That's how they had to be treated, with that kind of respect. Make them put it on the floor."

Walker's season high had been 15 points. He got there early in the third quarter on Friday, part of a wild personal burst in which he scored nine points in 69 seconds to give the Knicks a 62-58 lead. He connected on three 3-pointers, banking in the last one from 27 feet, talking animatedly to no one in particular after each one.

The Knicks were so committed to the 3-pointer that on one possession midway through the second half, the 7-foot Chandler had the 6-foot-4 Wade posted up, and kicked the ball to Walker for a corner 3 anyway. A few moments later, Chandler had Wade alone in the post again, no one else within about 3 feet of them, and still didn't get the ball for what likely would have been an easy score or at least trip to the foul line.

By the time the Heat made their first 3-pointer of the night late in the third quarter, New York had made 14 - a surreal 42-point discrepancy.

New York simply had no answer for Wade and James.

"I felt good enough," Wade said.

Wade missed in the lane with 7 minutes left, but tipped in his own rebound for a seven-point lead, then Miami's largest of the night. About 2 minutes later, Bosh got the ball to James in transition as Wade called for a lob - which James perfectly provided for a two-handed dunk and an 88-79 edge that left the Heat firmly in control.

"If he's putting on a uniform," James said, "I expect greatness out of him."

Notes: Celebrities were everywhere, especially from the baseball world. Alex Rodriguez sat courtside with Heat CEO Nick Arison, while Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and one of his former players Miguel Cabrera - soon to be Detroit's third baseman - chatted at halftime. Also in the crowd was former Knicks coach and current Florida International boss Isiah Thomas. ... Miami PG Norris Cole was bloodied after getting struck near his left eye in the first half. He returned to play and got four stitches postgame. ... Chandler was back in the building for the first time since helping Dallas win the NBA title in Miami in June. "Good memories and good vibes," said Chandler, who was staying in the same hotel and ate breakfast Friday in the same spot he did during the Mavs' run last season.

Notebook: Heat 99, Knicks 89

By Shandel Richardson, for NBA.com
Posted Friday January 27, 2012 11:48PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks 99-89 Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena. It was a strong return for guard Dwyane Wade, who missed the previous six games with a sprained ankle. Wade scored 28 points to help lead the Heat to their third straight victory.

The teams traded baskets for most of the first three quarters before the Heat took control in the fourth. The Knicks were competitive despite playing without injured forward Carmelo Anthony, who was bothered by a sore wrist and ankle.

In the end, it was too much Wade and Lebron James, who scored a game-high 31 points and had eight rebounds and seven assists. The Knicks were led by reserve forward Bill Walker. He scored 21 points, all coming on 3-point baskets.

QUOTABLE: "I just tried to be aggressive. I had been out for a while. The best way to get your rhythm is attacking the basket. After that first block by Amar'e (Stoudemire), I decided to attack a little stronger."
-- Heat guard Wade.

THE STAT: Even in defeat, the Knicks were impressive from the 3-point arc. They finished 18 of 43.

TURNING POINT: With the Knicks staying in the game behind 3-point shooting, it was a pair of triples from the Heat in the third quarter that swayed momentum. Shane Battier tied the score at 68 with a 3-pointer. After the Knicks answered, Battier two possessions later hit another three. It was the spark Miami needed.

QUOTABLE II: "We did hold them to 99 points. If we found an extra 15 points, we would've won the game."
-- Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni.

HOT: Wade carried the Heat through the first half and then served as the closer in the fourth quarter. He showed no signs of being affected by the right sprained ankle that kept him out of the past six games. Wade finished 11 of 19 from the field for 28 points.

NOT: Mike Bibby had a couple chances to extend a lead or stop a Heat rally. He never could connect, struggling through a poor shooting night. Bibby shot just 2 of 8 from 3-point range despite several open looks.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat could have sat Wade for a seventh straight game so he could be fresh for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bulls. This way Wade had a game under his belt to re-familiarize himself with teammates entering the rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals.

BAD MOVE: The Knicks relied too heavily on 3-point shooting and forgot about their inside game. At one point in the first half, Heat guard Wade was guarding Tyson Chandler. New York never realized the mismatch because of the perimeter focus.

NOTABLE: Knicks coach D'Antoni said he expects forward Anthony to return for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. New York is 1-8 in its last nine games.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Sunday vs. Bulls, Monday vs. Hornets, Wednesday @ Bucks. For the Knicks, Saturday @ Rockets, Tuesday vs. Pistons, Thursday vs. Bulls.

• Knicks: Anthony, Davis, Harrellson
• Heat: Gladness, Harris

• Knicks: --
• Heat: --

• Lead Changes: 11
• Times Tied: 10

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #6 Tony Brown, #20 Leroy Richardson
• Attendance: 19707
• Duration: 2:29