Gerald Green Scores 25, Leads Heat To 97-78 Rout Of Knicks
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NEW YORK (AP) — Gerald Green scored a season-high 25 points while starting in place of Luol Deng, and the Miami Heat beat New York 97-78 on Friday night for their second victory over the Knicks this week.
Chris Bosh added 20 points and Dwyane Wade had 17 for the Heat, who held the Knicks to 78 points in both victories over the last six nights.
Green showed off his entire repertoire during a superb fourth-quarter stretch that turned the game into a blowout and sent the Heat to their eighth straight victory over the Knicks, their longest winning streak in the series.
He also outplayed New York All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who missed his final eight shots over the last three quarters as the Knicks lost their third straight.
Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis each scored 11 points.
The Heat beat the Knicks 95-78 on Monday in Miami but then lost 104-81 on Wednesday in Detroit in their first game without Deng, who has a strained left hamstring. Green started for the first time this season in that one but coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game he hadn't decided if Green would get the nod again Friday in part because he was concerned about defending Anthony.
Not a problem, because nobody could defend Green.
The Heat led by eight early in the fourth quarter before Green drove baseline for a dunk, nailed a 3-pointer and threw down another dunk on an alley-oop to make it 85-70. After a basket by Porzingis, Green made another jumper, then followed Justise Winslow's basket with another 3 that put it away at 92-72 with just under 6 minutes to play.
Anthony was 4 of 5 for 11 points in the first quarter, but never got anything going again after returning from a break in the second. Miami rallied to go ahead by one at halftime and then took control with its defense.
The Knicks managed three baskets in the first 7-plus minutes of the third quarter, and two of them came on follow shots. Hassan Whiteside blocked two shots on one possession as the Knicks couldn't get jumpers to fall and couldn't score around the rim. The Heat pushed their lead to 73-64 heading to the fourth.
TIP-INS
Heat: Amare Stoudemire missed his first chance to return to Madison Square Garden because of an illness. He spent nearly five seasons with the Knicks and has appeared in just two games since signing with Miami in the offseason.
Knicks: The team opened a four-game homestand. New York's next three games are against Houston, Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Those teams began play Friday with a combined 8-38 record.
LUOL'S LEG
Deng last played Monday against the Knicks. He said he felt his hamstring tighten during the game and it affected his movement, so he and the trainers decided he should sit out again Friday to be smart. Deng hopes to return Monday against Boston.
HEAT'S STREAK
Miami had defeated the Knicks seven straight times on two previous occasions. The Heat's longest active winning streak against one team is 10 in a row versus Phoenix.
UP NEXT
Heat: Host Boston on Monday.
Knicks: Host Houston on Sunday.
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