The Miami Heat have received plenty of attention thanks to studded lineup. With a squad that tries to blow the opposition out of the building on any given day, the Heat look to deflate the recent surge the New York Knicks are experiencing tonight in South Beach.
The Heat will close out a three-game homestand before the All-Star break and have won seven in a row, including a 120-108 triumph over Sacramento on Tuesday. Dwyane Wade led six players in double-digit scoring with 30 points and dished out 10 assists, while Chris Bosh tallied 20 points and 10 boards and Mario Chalmers added 20 points as well for Miami, winners of eight in row as the host and owners of a 14-2 home mark.
"We weren't necessarily sharp consistently throughout the game. We did some nice things in spurts and stretches," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
"You do have to give the Kings credit. They played very well. They have some weapons, some young weapons on that team. If they get into a rhythm and get some confidence they can be very dangerous. They pushed us until the very end."
LeBron James recorded 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds, Norris Cole netted 12 points and Udonis Haslem scored 10. The Heat share the NBA's best record with Oklahoma City at 26-7 and have won 15 of 17 games since their last home loss versus Milwaukee on Jan. 22.
After the break the Heat will hit the road for three games out west against the Trail Blazers, Jazz and Lakers.
New York bounced back into the win column with last night's win over the Atlanta Hawks and had dropped two of three games since a season-best seven- game winning streak.
Blooming phenom Jeremy Lin had 17 points and nine assists to lead the Knicks to a 99-82 victory, while Steve Novak also scored 17 points for New York, which finished a five-game homestand with a 3-2 ledger. Landry Fields had 16 points, Carmelo Anthony added 15 and J.R. Smith contributed 12 for the Knicks. 'Melo played in his second straight game since missing seven in a row because of a groin issue, and is averaging 21.5 points per game.
"There are a lot of guys on this bench that would be starting on other teams. It's a very, very deep team and we have to use that to our advantage," said Knicks center Tyson Chandler, who compiled seven points and eight rebounds.
The Knicks shot 47.5 percent for the game and will try to extend their road winning streak to four games tonight. They sport a 7-8 record as the guest and are creeping up on the slumping Philadelphia 76ers in the Atlantic Division, sitting just three games off the pace.
New York dropped a 99-89 decision in Miami on Jan. 27 this season, as Wade came back from a six-game absence due to an ankle injury and posted 28 points. James had 31 points in that one for the Heat, who have won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Knicks.
Anthony was sidelined in the first meeting with Miami because of a thumb issue and Bill Walker did his part with 21 points. The Knicks have lost five of six trips to south Florida.
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