NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The unrelenting Miami Heat notched another win on their pay-back tour in a Sunday matinee yesterday, dashing the hopes of the New York Knicks while raising the question of whether any team can deny Miami another NBA title.
The Heat, led as usual by the spectacular LeBron James, erased a 15-point deficit at intermission by imposing their will down the stretch for a 99-93 victory in Madison Square Garden that extended their winning streak to a franchise record-tying 14 in a row.
Reigning champions Miami ended New York’s modest three-game win streak and avenged a pair of 20-point losses to the Atlantic Division leaders early this season.
Dwyane Wade said revenge was not only sweet, but important as the Heat sent a message to the Knicks after getting even with another quality team, the Memphis Grizzlies, on Friday.
“When you’re on a winning streak you’ve got to find many different ways to win ball games,” said Wade, who scored 20 points, handed out eight assists and pulled down eight rebounds.
“We’ve had comebacks in the last second, we’ve had double overtime games, but this is probably the most thrilling one, the most challenging against a team that beat us twice handily.
“For us to come back and find a way, it was great.”
Wade said the Heat figured the Knicks must have felt they had Miami’s number after storming to a 59-45 lead at the half.
“In the first half, in their mindset they’ve got the answer key to the Miami Heat, and we have to fight and understand this team is trying to kick our butt and show the world that they can kick our butt. So we had to fight back.
“It’s a good win for our psyche.”
The Heat have another game circled on their calendar, a date next week against the Indiana Pacers, who also have gone 2-0 against Miami this season.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson blamed the Knicks’ fade on turnovers, saying you can ward off the Heat for only so long.
“You are not going to slow those guys down,” said Woodson, whose team slipped to 35-21 as James blocked shots, made steals and sank three-pointers down the stretch to secure the win. “He has been playing that way for the last four or five years.”
