The Miami Heat shot 56 percent from the floor, and the New York Knicks couldn't make up the difference by taking 42 three-point shots. Miami won 102-91 at home and overcame Knicks guard J.R. Smith's 32 points, which included a franchise record 10 three-pointers on an NBA-record 22 attempts that broke Damon Stoudamire's record of 21 set in 2005.
2014 NBA scores: Heat hold off gunning J.R. Smith, Knicks
J.R. Smith set three-point records, but it wasn’t enough for the New York Knicks to overcome efficient Miami Heat offense.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James flexed his muscle for the Heat with 38 points and six assists, and Miami kept New York from making any headway on the Atlanta Hawks, who entered Sunday with a one-game lead for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
With the win, Miami moved ahead of the Indiana Pacers for the first place spot in the East.
After Miami chipped away at an early 16-3 deficit, it was an even game through the first two quarters. The Knicks led 50-48 at half despite shooting 15 percent from the field worse than the Heat, but they made up for that difference with 13 second-chance points.
Miami fixed those rebounding issues in the third quarter while outscoring the Knicks 25-14 in the period as New York got stuck launching 11 threes and hitting just one.
In the fourth quarter, Smith hit his ninth three-pointer with three minutes left and brought the Knicks within 94-88. He set the franchise record for made threes in a game with less than two minutes left to again cut New York’s lead to six. But after both shots, Miami answered with three-point shots of its own, and the Knicks would never get within striking distance.
See More:
