GAME THREAD: NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">MIAMI VS NEW YORK - INACTIVES

MIAMI NEW YORK

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
E BARRON COACH'S DECISION J JAMES KNEE INJURY
D WADE SHOULDER Z RANDOLPH PERSONAL REASONS
J ANTHONY COACH'S DECISION J JEFFRIES KNEE INJURY</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">MIAMI AT NEW YORK - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


MIAMI NEW YORK

F Penny Hardaway F Quentin Richardson
F Udonis Haslem F David Lee
C Shaquille O'Neal C Eddy Curry
G Jason Williams G Stephon Marbury
G Ricky Davis G Jamal Crawford

OFFICIALS: Scott Foster
David Jones
Eric Lewis</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 2
NEW YORK 8 8:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 12
NEW YORK 12 6:07 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 18
NEW YORK 16 3:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 25
NEW YORK 20 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 25 25
NEW YORK 20 20 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

MIA - UDONIS HASLEM 10, JASON WILLIAMS 6,
RICKY DAVIS 5
NYK - EDDY CURRY 12, STEPHON MARBURY 4, DAVID
LEE 2</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 31
NEW YORK 20 9:14 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 33
NEW YORK 24 5:37 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 35
NEW YORK 29 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 37
NEW YORK 39 HALFTIME</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 25 12 37
NEW YORK 20 19 39 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

MIA - UDONIS HASLEM 10, JASON WILLIAMS 8,
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 6
NYK - EDDY CURRY 12, STEPHON MARBURY 9, JAMAL
CRAWFORD 8</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 41
NEW YORK 41 8:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 47
NEW YORK 43 5:57 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 49
NEW YORK 50 3:14 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 52
NEW YORK 58 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 25 12 15 52
NEW YORK 20 19 19 58 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

MIA - JASON WILLIAMS 13, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 12,
UDONIS HASLEM 12
NYK - EDDY CURRY 17, JAMAL CRAWFORD 13,
STEPHON MARBURY 12</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 59
NEW YORK 65 8:39 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 62
NEW YORK 68 5:46 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 67
NEW YORK 72 2:25 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 75
NEW YORK 72 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 25 12 15 23 75
NEW YORK 20 19 19 14 72 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: MIA - JASON WILLIAMS 17, UDONIS HASLEM 16, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 14
NYK - EDDY CURRY 19, STEPHON MARBURY 14, DAVID
LEE 14</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
MIAMI 75
NEW YORK 72 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEW YORK (Ticker) - While the Miami Heat continue to anticipateDwyane Wade's return, their wait for their first victory isover.


Jason Williams scored the last four points of the game Sunday asthe Heat rallied for a 75-72 victory over the New York Knicks.

It was the first win in six games this season for Miami, whichhas struggled without the injured Wade. Still recoveringshoulder and knee surgeries, Wade has been practicing but doesnot appear close to returning.


Without Wade, Miami lost its first five games by a combined 30points and did so despite holding its first four opponents under100 points - including two under 90.


Despite another strong defensive performance in this one, theHeat appeared headed to another close loss. But with the Heatfacing a 72-67 deficit with 2 1/2 minutes remaining, Williamsand Udonis Haslem took over down the stretch.


Haslem scored ona tip-in with two minutes left and made a layupwith 47 seconds remaining to draw Miami within 72-71.

The Heat forced a turnover 10 seconds later to set the stage forWilliams, who drilled a jumper from the left corner to make it73-72 with 19 seconds left.


The Knicks turned the ball over again on their next possession,and Williams sank a pair of free throws to give Miami a 75-72edge with nine seconds remaining.


New York had a chance to force overtime, but Stephon Marburybadly missed a 3-pointer just before time expired.

Williams finished with 17 points and five assists while Haslemchipped in 16 points and 16 rebounds. Shaquille O'Neal andRicky Davis each scored 14 points for Miami, which limited NewYork to just 37 percent (28-of-75) shooting.


The Heat still struggled on the offensive end, they had 37points at halftime after allowing the Knicks to close the firsthalf with a 17-4 run and enter the break with a two-point lead.

The Knicks, who open a four-game, five-night road trip Tuesdayin Phoenix, dropped their second straight game following a 2-1start. They played without forward Zach Randolph, who is inIndiana following the death of his grandmother.


With Randolph out of the lineup, Eddy Curry picked up the pacein the paint, scoring 19 points. Marbury added 14 pointsdespite shooting just 6-of-16 while David Lee collected 14points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">MIAMI (75) AT NEW YORK (72)

MIAMI

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

J WILLIAMS G 39:00 6-14 3-5 0 1 1 5 2 3 3 17
R DAVIS G 40:30 5-15 2-2 0 2 2 3 4 0 2 14
U HASLEM F 42:35 8-13 0-2 6 10 16 3 1 1 2 16
P HARDAWAY F 36:10 2-8 0-0 1 4 5 6 4 4 1 5
S O'NEAL C 36:02 7-13 0-0 3 6 9 2 3 1 2 14
S PARKER 16:15 2-5 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 5
A MOURNING 11:58 2-2 0-0 0 4 4 0 2 0 4 4
C QUINN 6:14 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
D WRIGHT 5:51 0-0 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0
M BLOUNT 5:25 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0

TOTALS 240:00 32-73 5-9 10 33 43 21 17 10 16 75
(.438) (.556) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 16 (17 PTS)

NEW YORK

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S MARBURY G 42:40 6-16 0-0 0 1 1 6 2 1 2 14
J CRAWFORD G 40:01 4-14 4-5 0 1 1 4 1 2 3 13
Q RICHARDSON F 31:25 3-8 2-2 3 6 9 0 2 2 1 8
D LEE F 39:05 6-15 2-2 2 12 14 0 4 1 3 14
E CURRY C 33:31 7-12 5-6 3 3 6 0 5 0 4 19
M COLLINS 20:47 1-3 0-2 1 2 3 0 2 2 2 2
M ROSE 14:02 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0
R BALKMAN 13:12 1-4 0-0 3 1 4 0 1 0 1 2
N ROBINSON 3:06 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
F JONES 2:11 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 28-75 13-17 12 27 39 11 18 10 18 72
(.373) (.765) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 18 (18 PTS)

MIAMI 25 12 15 23 - 75
NEW YORK 20 19 19 14 - 72

BLOCKED SHOTS: MIAMI - S O'NEAL 3, A MOURNING. NEW YORK - J CRAWFORD,
D LEE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MIAMI 6-25 (.240), J WILLIAMS 2-5, R DAVIS 2-9,
P HARDAWAY 1-5, S PARKER 1-3, C QUINN 0-3. NEW YORK 3-16 (.188), S MARBURY 2-
6, J CRAWFORD 1-6, Q RICHARDSON 0-2, M COLLINS 0-1, R BALKMAN 0-1.

TECHNICAL FOULS: MIAMI - DEFENSIVE THREE. NEW YORK - COACH THOMAS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAVID JONES, ERIC LEWIS, SCOTT FOSTER.
A - N/A. T - N/A.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">MIAMI (75)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Williams 39:00 6-14 3-5 0-1 5 2 17
R Davis 40:30 5-15 2-2 0-2 3 4 14
U Haslem 42:35 8-13 0-2 6-16 3 1 16
P Hardaway 36:10 2-8 0-0 1-5 6 4 5
S O'Neal 36:02 7-13 0-0 3-9 2 3 14
S Parker 16:15 2-5 0-0 0-2 1 0 5
A Mourning 11:58 2-2 0-0 0-4 0 2 4
C Quinn 6:14 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
D Wright 5:51 0-0 0-0 0-3 0 0 0
M Blount 5:25 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-73 5-9 10-43 21 17 75
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.438, FT-.556. 3-Point Goals:
6-25, .240 (J Williams 2-5, R Davis 2-9, P
Hardaway 1-5, S Parker 1-3, C Quinn 0-3).
Team Rebounds: 6. Blocked Shots:4 (S O'Neal
3, A Mourning). Turnovers:16 (A Mourning 4, J
Williams 3, S O'Neal 2, R Davis 2, U Haslem
2, P Hardaway, S Parker, M Blount). Steals:
10 (P Hardaway 4, J Williams 3, S O'Neal, M
Blount, U Haslem).


NEW YORK (72)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Marbury 42:40 6-16 0-0 0-1 6 2 14
J Crawford 40:01 4-14 4-5 0-1 4 1 13
Q Richardson 31:25 3-8 2-2 3-9 0 2 8
D Lee 39:05 6-15 2-2 2-14 0 4 14
E Curry 33:31 7-12 5-6 3-6 0 5 19
M Collins 20:47 1-3 0-2 1-3 0 2 2
M Rose 14:02 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
R Balkman 13:12 1-4 0-0 3-4 0 1 2
N Robinson 3:06 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
F Jones 2:11 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-75 13-17 12-39 11 18 72
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.373, FT-.765. 3-Point Goals:
3-16, .188 (S Marbury 2-6, J Crawford 1-6, Q
Richardson 0-2, M Collins 0-1, R Balkman
0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:2 (J
Crawford, D Lee). Turnovers:18 (E Curry 4, J
Crawford 3, D Lee 3, M Rose 2, M Collins 2, S
Marbury 2, Q Richardson, R Balkman). Steals:
10 (M Rose 2, J Crawford 2, Q Richardson 2, M
Collins 2, S Marbury, D Lee).

-------------------------------------------
MIAMI 25 12 15 23 - 75
NEW YORK 20 19 19 14 - 72
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Miami - 1 (Defensive Three,
2:03 3rd). New York - 1 (COACH Thomas, 0:00
2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: N/A. T: N/A.
Officials: David Jones, Eric Lewis, Scott
Foster.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">MIAMI (75) AT NEW YORK (72)

MIAMI

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

J WILLIAMS G 39:00 6-14 3-5 0 1 1 5 2 3 3 17
R DAVIS G 40:30 5-15 2-2 0 2 2 3 4 0 2 14
U HASLEM F 42:35 8-13 0-2 6 10 16 3 1 1 2 16
P HARDAWAY F 36:10 2-8 0-0 1 4 5 6 4 4 1 5
S O'NEAL C 36:02 7-13 0-0 3 6 9 2 3 1 2 14
S PARKER 16:15 2-5 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 5
A MOURNING 11:58 2-2 0-0 0 4 4 0 2 0 4 4
C QUINN 6:14 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
D WRIGHT 5:51 0-0 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0
M BLOUNT 5:25 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0
A JOHNSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D COOK DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 32-73 5-9 10 33 43 21 17 10 16 75
(.438) (.556) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 17 (16 PTS)

NEW YORK

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S MARBURY G 42:40 6-16 0-0 0 1 1 6 2 1 2 14
J CRAWFORD G 40:01 4-14 4-5 0 1 1 4 1 2 3 13
Q RICHARDSON F 31:25 3-8 2-2 3 6 9 0 2 2 1 8
D LEE F 39:05 6-15 2-2 2 12 14 0 4 1 3 14
E CURRY C 33:31 7-12 5-6 3 3 6 0 5 0 4 19
M COLLINS 20:47 1-3 0-2 1 2 3 0 2 2 2 2
M ROSE 14:02 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0
R BALKMAN 13:12 1-4 0-0 3 1 4 0 1 0 1 2
N ROBINSON 3:06 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
F JONES 2:11 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
R MORRIS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
W CHANDLER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 28-75 13-17 12 27 39 11 18 10 18 72
(.373) (.765) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 18 (20 PTS)

MIAMI 25 12 15 23 - 75
NEW YORK 20 19 19 14 - 72

BLOCKED SHOTS: MIAMI - S O'NEAL 3, A MOURNING. NEW YORK - J CRAWFORD,
D LEE.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MIAMI 6-25 (.240), J WILLIAMS 2-5, R DAVIS 2-9,
P HARDAWAY 1-5, S PARKER 1-3, C QUINN 0-3. NEW YORK 3-16 (.188), S MARBURY 2-
6, J CRAWFORD 1-6, Q RICHARDSON 0-2, M COLLINS 0-1, R BALKMAN 0-1.

TECHNICAL FOULS: MIAMI - DEFENSIVE THREE. NEW YORK - COACH THOMAS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAVID JONES, ERIC LEWIS, SCOTT FOSTER.
A - 19,763. T - 2:09.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: MIAMI at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">MIAMI (75)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Williams 39:00 6-14 3-5 0-1 5 2 17
R Davis 40:30 5-15 2-2 0-2 3 4 14
U Haslem 42:35 8-13 0-2 6-16 3 1 16
P Hardaway 36:10 2-8 0-0 1-5 6 4 5
S O'Neal 36:02 7-13 0-0 3-9 2 3 14
S Parker 16:15 2-5 0-0 0-2 1 0 5
A Mourning 11:58 2-2 0-0 0-4 0 2 4
C Quinn 6:14 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
D Wright 5:51 0-0 0-0 0-3 0 0 0
M Blount 5:25 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
A Johnson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Cook DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-73 5-9 10-43 21 17 75
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.438, FT-.556. 3-Point Goals:
6-25, .240 (J Williams 2-5, R Davis 2-9, P
Hardaway 1-5, S Parker 1-3, C Quinn 0-3).
Team Rebounds: 6. Blocked Shots:4 (S O'Neal
3, A Mourning). Turnovers:16 (A Mourning 4, J
Williams 3, S O'Neal 2, R Davis 2, U Haslem
2, P Hardaway, S Parker, M Blount). Steals:
10 (P Hardaway 4, J Williams 3, S O'Neal, M
Blount, U Haslem).


NEW YORK (72)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Marbury 42:40 6-16 0-0 0-1 6 2 14
J Crawford 40:01 4-14 4-5 0-1 4 1 13
Q Richardson 31:25 3-8 2-2 3-9 0 2 8
D Lee 39:05 6-15 2-2 2-14 0 4 14
E Curry 33:31 7-12 5-6 3-6 0 5 19
M Collins 20:47 1-3 0-2 1-3 0 2 2
M Rose 14:02 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
R Balkman 13:12 1-4 0-0 3-4 0 1 2
N Robinson 3:06 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
F Jones 2:11 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
R Morris DNP - COACH'S DECISION
W Chandler DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-75 13-17 12-39 11 18 72
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.373, FT-.765. 3-Point Goals:
3-16, .188 (S Marbury 2-6, J Crawford 1-6, Q
Richardson 0-2, M Collins 0-1, R Balkman
0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:2 (J
Crawford, D Lee). Turnovers:18 (E Curry 4, J
Crawford 3, D Lee 3, M Rose 2, M Collins 2, S
Marbury 2, Q Richardson, R Balkman). Steals:
10 (M Rose 2, J Crawford 2, Q Richardson 2, M
Collins 2, S Marbury, D Lee).

-------------------------------------------
MIAMI 25 12 15 23 - 75
NEW YORK 20 19 19 14 - 72
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Miami - 1 (Defensive Three,
2:04 3rd). New York - 1 (COACH Thomas, 7:12
2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,763. T: 2:09.
Officials: David Jones, Eric Lewis, Scott
Foster.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEW YORK (Ticker) -- While the Miami Heat continue to anticipateDwyane Wade's return, their wait for their first victory isover.


Jason Williams scored the last four points of the game Sunday asthe Heat rallied for a 75-72 victory over the New York Knicks.

It was the first win in six games this season for Miami, whichhas struggled without the injured Wade. Still recovering fromshoulder and knee surgeries, Wade has been practicing but doesnot appear close to returning.


Without Wade, Miami lost its first five games by a combined 30points and did so despite holding its first four opponents under100 points - including two under 90.


Despite another strong defensive performance in this one, theHeat appeared headed to another close loss. But with the Heatfacing a 72-67 deficit with 2 1/2 minutes remaining, Williamsand Udonis Haslem took over down the stretch.


"It was a much-needed win for us," Miami center Shaquille O'Nealsaid. "We have folded under the pressure the last couple ofgame. We got a couple of big stops and (Williams) hit a bigshot in the corner and big free throws."


"They were pretty desperate for a win," Knicks coach IsiahThomas said. "It was just a matter of time before they beatsomebody. Unfortunately it was us."


Haslem scored on tip-in with 2:08 remaining and made a layupwith 47 seconds remaining to draw Miami within 72-71.

The Heat forced a turnover 10 seconds later when StephonMarbury's pass intended for Jamal Crawford landed in the stands.

That set the stage for Williams, who was wide open in the leftcorner after Marbury committed to Ricky Davis. Given plenty oftime to shoot, Williams drilled a 16-footer to make it 73-72with 19 seconds left.


"We ran a pick-and-roll," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "We callit twist where he's going to get three opportunities to try and<div class="pre">create airspace. He made the pass to Ricky. Ricky penetrated,</div>threw it back and he was wide open and he buried it."

Williams also factored in the final defensive stand when heintercepted Crawford's pass that was intended for Eddy Curry.After getting fouled by David Lee, Williams sank a pair of freethrows to give Miami a 75-72 edge with nine seconds remaining.

"We knew we were going to blitz on Marbury and Crawford and wedid that all night and their big guys, Curry and Lee wereducking in, so our perimeter had to dig down," Williams said.

"We just haven't been able to get stops down the stretch,"Haslem said. "When you're able to get stops down the stretch,(it helps you win). Fortunately it happened and we'll try tobuild on it."


New York had a chance to force overtime, but Marbury badlymissed a 3-pointer just before time expired.


"Actually that last was for Steph to shoot or drive thebasketball," Thomas said. "If he couldn't drive it, he couldtake the three."


Not only did Williams and Haslem give Miami its first win of theregular season, the duo gave the Heat their first victory sinceApril 13.


Before their third 0-5 start in franchise history, the Heat hadlost their final two regular-season games of 2006-07, fourstraight playoff games to the Chicago Bulls and gone winless inseven preseason contests.


"Anytime you get a wide-open three with the game on the line,you feel like the guy is going to make it," Riley said. "I justfelt like it was time for us to make one in the last 19 games."

Williams finished with 17 points and five assists while Haslemchipped in 16 points and 16 rebounds. O'Neal and Davis eachscored 14 points for Miami, which limited New York to just 37percent (28-of-75) shooting.


The Knicks also shot 5-of-18 in the fourth, missed 10 of theirfinal 11 shots, and were scoreless in the final 2 1/2 minutes.

New York took a 58-52 lead into the fourth and were up, 68-62,after Mardy Collins made a nine-footer with 6:48 remaining. ButMarbury and Crawford missed three shots apiece before Lee'sdunk with 3:25 remaining put them ahead 70-67.


"Being up in the final two minutes, we need to find a way topull that out," Lee said. "We didn't execute some plays weresupposed to and they did on the other end."


"The last few games, we had opportunities to win both of them,"Crawford added. "The Orlando game and this one we got a leadwith three minutes to go - we have to close it out."

The Heat still struggled on the offensive end - they had 37points at halftime after allowing the Knicks to close the firsthalf with a 17-4 run and enter the break with a two-point lead.

The Knicks, who open a four-game, five-night road trip Tuesdayin Phoenix, dropped their second straight game following a 2-1start. They played without forward Zach Randolph, who is inIndiana following the death of his grandmother.


With Randolph out of the lineup, Curry picked up the pace in thepaint, scoring 19 points. Marbury added 14 points despiteshooting just 6-of-16 while Lee started for Randolph andcollected 14 points and 14 rebounds.