The Miami Heat welcomed back Dwyane Wade on Friday night, and the superstar led a highlight-filled 99-89 victory over the New York Knicks. After missing two weeks with an ankle injury, Wade came back and immediately took control of the game in the first quarter. He put up 18 points in the first half alone, and finished with 28 on 11 of 19 from the floor. He showed no signs of the injury, as he raced up and down the court creating one highlight after another with LeBron James. In the final two minutes, he had an amazing block of Toney Douglas, springing off the ankle as he backpedaled down the lane against the Knicks' point guard.
With Wade back in the fold, LeBron James seemed infused with energy, taking alley-oops from his good friend and fellow All-Star. James had a game-high 31 points, while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing seven assists. But the Knicks kept it close throughout by chucking (and hitting) from behind the arc. Bill Walker went crazy, hitting seven three-pointers, including a stretch in the third quarter where he hit threes on three consecutive possessions. The Knicks, who were playing without Carmelo Anthony, eventually ran out of firepower. Miami clamped down on the defensive end in the fourth quarter and pulled out the 99-89 win.
The Heat now host the team with the best record in the league, the Chicago Bulls, in the Sunday afternoon ABC game of the week
For more on this game from a Heat perspective, check out Pennisula is Mightier. For a view from the other bench, there is always Posting and Toasting, SB Nation's Knicks blog. And for more on this and every other game, check out the SB Nation NBA hub page.