LeBron James scores 31 as Miami Heat overpower New York Knicks 99-89 - NBA Recap
Two of the most star studded sides in the league- New York Knicks and Miami Heat- met on Friday night at the American Airlines Arena, Miami, and as was expected it was an exciting battle.
Knicks were outstanding with their long range shooting, netting 18-43 from outside the arc and their players performed up to their potential as well. But then again, they were against the mighty “Big Three” of Heat, who did not require much assistance to
guide Miami to their 14th win of the season.
"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."
LeBron James was yet again the leader in scoring with 31 points on 11-for-18 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the charity stripe, 8 boards and 7 assists while Chris Bosh pounded 13 points and pulled down 9 boards. But the most satisfying feature of the game
was Dwyane Wade’s 28 point tally in his comeback game.
Wade, who missed last six Miami games due to a sprained ankle, took no time to adjust and immediately made an impact. He was accurate with the shooting and shot 11-for-19 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
"Real nice to be back," Wade said. "Felt great. Felt great."
Reserve Bill Walker spearheaded the Knicks with 21 points on an outstanding 7 for 10 from the long range and 7 rebounds whereas Toney Douglas bundled 16 points on 4-for-8 from downtown. Landry Fields had 14 while Amar’e Stoudemire netted 12 points.
Knicks fought bravely and were in the game by the end of the third frame, only behind by 3 points 74-71, however a 17-8 spurt that Heat rattled at the start of the deciding quarter turned in Miami’s favour.
Knicks played their heart out in the ensuing passage to eliminate the deficit and get back in the game; however, it proved way too much in the end as Knicks lost the game with a double-digit margin 99-89.
So it was the fourth quarter muscle by Miami that decided the fate of the game. Tyson Chandler, who only managed to score 9 points for Knicks, also admitted the fact but added that Knicks should have won this game.
"This was a game for us to win, "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."
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