RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
NEW YORK (AP) -- Tim Hardaway's next-to-last shot hit nothing but
air. His final shot clanged hard off the rim.
Hardaway tried to win a Knicks-Heat game all by himself Tuesday
night, but he missed his final two shots -- both from 3-point range
-- to allow New York to escape with a 76-74 victory in another close
contest between the archrivals.
"If it's the same situation tomorrow night, we want him to have
the ball," Miami's Bruce Bowen said. "His nickname is 'Bigs'
because he hits big shots."
This time, though, Hardaway didn't.
In a matchup highlighted mainly by defense, the Knicks outscored
the Heat 16-12 in the fourth quarter. New York had only two field
goals over the final six minutes, while Miami had just three over
the same span.
"I thought our defense was better tonight," Knicks coach Jeff
Van Gundy said. "The biggest thing is we started to show our
collective heart again. That's probably the one thing it takes for
us to win in this league."
Latrell Sprewell led the Knicks with 17 points, while Larry
Johnson had 14, Marcus Camby 13 and Allan Houston 12.
Anthony Mason had 17 points for the Heat.
The victory moved the Knicks back into second place in the
Atlantic Division, just a few percentage points ahead of Miami.
After Eddie Jones stole the ball from Sprewell with 15 seconds
left, Hardaway rushed a 3-point attempt that missed badly. It was
his second airball of the night from 3-point range.
"It was designed to go to somebody, and I was going to surprise
the guy and shoot a 3 -- but I shot an airball," Hardaway said.
Charlie Ward was fouled with 3.3 seconds left and made one of
two from the line, giving the Heat another chance.
Hardaway attempted another 3-pointer just before the buzzer, and
the shot bounced hard off the rim as time expired.
"Point-blank shot, I should have make it," Hardaway said. "I
was wide open, faked the guy. I just missed."
Neither team led by more than five points over the first three
quarters, and Miami took a 62-60 lead into the fourth.
The Heat committed three turnovers and missed their first five
shots of the fourth quarter before Mason made one of two from the
line with 7:30 left to cut Miami's deficit to 64-63.
The Knicks stayed ahead until Hardaway drove around Sprewell for
an uncontested layup that made it 70-69 with 3:54 left, but Miami's
lead lasted just 14 seconds before Houston hit two foul shots.
A turnover by Jones was followed by a layup by Camby for a
three-point lead with 2:33 left, and New York held the lead the
rest of the way.
Ahead 75-74, Sprewell missed a 3-pointer as the 24-second clock
was about to expire with 34 seconds left. Camby grabbed the
offensive rebound, and the Knicks ran 19 seconds off the shot clock
before Jones sneaked up behind Sprewell and stole the ball to set
up the final sequence and Hardaway's final two misses.
"I thought they were going to go to (Brian) Grant, he was going
so well for them, but I guess they were going for the win," said
New York's Chris Childs, who defended Hardaway down the stretch.
"You know Tim. He's always running his mouth. It's just due
that he shot two airballs," Childs said.
Game notes Houston, whose name has popped up in trade rumors recently,
said he does not expect the Knicks to pull off a major deal.
"Earlier in the season I thought we'd do something more than I do
now," he said. ... Othella Harrington of the Knicks sat out his
third straight game. He has played only 91 minutes since being
acquired from Vancouver 10 games ago. ... Comedian Jerry Seinfeld
and his wife, Jessica, attended the game. Also seated on Celebrity
Row was Magic Johnson.
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NBA Scoreboard
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Toronto 113 Golden State 102
Vancouver 116 Washington 104
Phoenix 110 Orlando 104
New York 76 Miami 74
Milwaukee 101 Chicago 92
LA Lakers 119 Dallas 109
Houston 101 Boston 84
Portland 104 Denver 94
Sacramento 94 Atlanta 80
AUDIO/VIDEO
Coach Pat Riley felt the Heat had the opportunity to beat the Knicks.
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