Miami Heat Vs New York Knicks: Game Two Preview

The Miami Heat will be visiting the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan tonight. The game recasts foes from last postseasons' opening playoff round in the Eastern Conference, where the Heat sent the Knicks home in five games. It's the first of four meetings this season between the two clubs, and the first of two they will play in New York City. The Heat will return to South Beach afterward for a three game homestand, featuring the Phoenix Suns, the Denver Nuggets, and the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks season opener, a matchup with the Nets in Brooklyn, was postponed to a later date due to weather complications from Hurricane Sandy. After, they'll play a home-and-home series with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The two teams last met on May 9th, in game five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in Miami. Partial recap courtesy of NBA.COM:

The Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks 106-94 Wednesday to win the series 4-1.

The Heat advance to play the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The series begins Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat were led by LeBron James , who finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Guard Dwyane Wade and forward Chris Bosh each scored 19

After falling to the Knicks in Game 4, the Heat made sure the series would not return to New York by producing one of their most balanced offensive efforts of the season. They had four players in double-figures (Mario Chalmers), and two others with at least nine points (Mike Miller and Shane Battier).

Although the Knicks rallied from an 11-point deficit to take Game 4, the Heat this time kept on the pressure. They led by double-digits the entire second half.

Full recap

Box Score

The Celtics were led by Paul Pierce's 23 points.

Full recap

Box Score

Game Time: 8:00 PM ET

Current Odds: Miami by -5 1/2

Season Series: 0-0

Standings:

Miami Heat: 1-0, first in the Southeast Division, tied for first in the Eastern Conference and the NBA. Current odds of making the postseason: 63.2%

New York Knicks: 0-0, tied for second in the Atlantic Division, tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference, tied for 13th in the NBA. Current odds of making the postseason: 57.4%

Probable Starters

Miami Heat:
PG - Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwyane Wade
SF - Shane Battier
PF - LeBron James
CF - Chris Bosh

New York Knicks:
PG - Raymond Felton
SG - J.R. Smith
SF - Carmelo Anthony
PF - Chris Copeland
C - Tyson Chandler

Common Thread:

Knicks Forward/Center Kurt Thomas, entering his 18th NBA season, spent the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons with the Heat. He averaged 8.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in just under a half per game.

New arrival to Miami, second year forward/center Josh Harrellson, played his first NBA season with the Knicks. He averaged four points and four rebounds through 37 games.

Heat Milestones:

With five more field goals, Chris Bosh will move into 19th place all-time, displacing Billy Thompson with 930.

5 field goals will give LeBron James 1,404, moving him past Brian Grant into 12th all-time.

Chris Bosh needs 12 free throws to pass Brian Grant into 14th place, with 628.

Two rebounds will place Joel Anthony in 20th all-time, passing John Salley with 1,057.

Chris Bosh needs 14 rebounds to move him into 15th all-time, passing Kevin Willis with 1,117.

Udonis Haslem sits 52 rebounds short of the Heat all-time leader, Alonzo Mourning.

Nine assists for PG Mario Chalmers will push him past Anthony Carter and Glen Rice into seventh, with 1,068.

Three blocks will put Chris Bosh into a tie with LeBron James in 19th, with 100.

Heat Splits vs Knicks:

Dwyane Wade has averaged 29 points with six rebounds and six assists in 24 games against the Knicks. LBJ can be counted on for 28 points with seven boards and seven assists, while Bosh typically scores 21 points with nine rebounds. Ray Allen usually pitches in 19.

Team Leaders: (After one game)

PPG:
Dwyane Wade, 29.0
Lebron James, 26.0
Chris Bosh, 19.0

RPG:
LeBron James, 10.0
Chris Bosh, 10.0
Rashard Lewis, 5.0

APG:
Mario Chalmers, 11.0
Dwyane Wade, 4.0
LeBron James, 3.0

SPG:
Mario Chalmers, 3.0
Dwyane Wade, 2.0
LeBron James, 2.0

BPG:
Chris Bosh, 3.0
Dwyane Wade, 1.0
Rashard Lewis, 1.0