Knicks at Heat
THE STORY: Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony got their first win together as the key players on Wednesday, sharing the ball and working efficiently against the Atlanta Hawks. If they want to make it two in a row, the Knicks are going to have to find a way to stop the most prolific offense in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat. The Heat have won seven straight and will be looking to keep that momentum into the All-Star break. Dwyane Wade has shot over 50 percent from the field in 11 consecutive games to lead the way.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE KNICKS (17-17): Lin and Anthony combined for 12 assists in the 99-82 win over the Hawks on Wednesday, with many going to each other. The Knicks also looked sharp at the defensive end, though Atlanta is mired in a horrible offensive slump. That defense allowed the Heat to shoot 46.3 percent in a 99-89 loss at Miami on Jan. 27. But this New York team is much different from that squad, which did not have Anthony and kept Lin on the bench. While Lin’s scoring and shot attempts have decreased in the last two games with Anthony, his turnovers have also gone down.
ABOUT THE HEAT (26-7): Miami is on a roll like no other team in the NBA right now. The Heat have won each of the last seven games by at least 12 points and are scoring 107.6 points during the surge. LeBron James and Wade, who combined for 59 points in the Jan. 27 meeting, hooked up on a number of highlight plays in a 120-108 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday and are as efficient as any duo in the league. Wade’s 11-game streak matches a career high while James is shooting 62.5 percent (50 for 80) over the last five.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Knicks took the final two meetings in 2010-11.
2. James has averaged 28 points in 28 career games against New York.
3. Knicks G Baron Davis continues to work himself into game shape, getting 14 minutes off the bench on Wednesday.