For the first time since April 29, 2001, the New York Knicks have won a playoff game.
The Miami Heat fell to the Knicks 89-87 on Sunday after Dwyane Wade missed a potential game-winning three-pointer with 1.6 seconds left.
The Knicks, who had previously lost their last 13 playoff games, were led by Carmelo Anthony, who scored 41 points. His go-ahead three-pointer with 54 seconds to go gave the Knicks the lead for good. Amare Stoudemire returned from a badly cut hand to score 20 points with 10 rebounds.
LeBron James scored 27 points but shot a sub-par 9 of 21. Dwyane Wade added 22 points, while Chris Bosh scored 17 points and added 9 rebounds.
The Heat had their worst shooting performance of the series, hitting only 41 percent of their shots and failing to make a three-pointer until late in the third quarter. Miami shot just 3 of 19 from downtown, and the Knicks were not much better, going 5 for 22. Wade was uncharacteristically bad from the charity stripe, making only 4 of 11 free throws.
Miami came very close to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Down three with under a minute to go, Shane Battier fouled Anthony in three-point territory, which seemed to have iced the game in favor of the Knicks. But Anthony only made one of his three free-throws, and James brought the Heat back within one on a three-point play when his drive to the basket drew a foul.
The Heat fouled Stoudemire with 14.8 seconds left, and he missed his second free-throw, giving the Heat the ball with only a two-point deficit and 13.6 seconds to go.
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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra made a decision in the final moments that will surely draw questions from fans and analysts, using James as a decoy while Wade attempted to create an open shot for himself. After an unsuccessful drive towards the hoop, Wade retreated to the three-point line and heaved up a desperation attempt that clanged off the rim.
Both teams struggled to keep their opponents off of the free-throw line. The officiating crew called a combined 55 fouls during the game, including 23 in the second quarter.
The Knicks were hit with yet another injury to a critical player in the third quarter, when PG Baron Davis dislocated his right kneecap. He had to be carried off the court in a stretcher, and is not expected to return during the series.
The series will return to Miami for Game 5 on Wednesday, when Miami will have another chance to close out the series. The Heat are a league-best 30-5 at home this season, including 2-0 in the playoffs.
