Knicks at Heat
Sitting on the periphery of the Eastern Conference playoff race, the New York Knicks can't afford another loss the rest of the way. They'll be in for one of the biggest challenges of the season Sunday afternoon as they face the conference-leading Heat in Miami. New York is coming off a 90-89 heartbreaker to the Washington Wizards on Friday night and enters Sunday's action one game behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony indicated that he will play against the Heat after suffering what was termed a "deep bruise" in his right shoulder in the contest against Washington. Miami is in a battle of its own, sitting mere percentage points ahead of the Indiana Pacers in the race for the No. 1 seed in the conference. The Heat lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-121 in double overtime on Friday night despite 34 points from LeBron James.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, ABC
ABOUT THE KNICKS (33-44): New president of basketball operations Phil Jackson may clean house at the end of the season - and the first to depart may be head coach Mike Woodson. While Jackson goes on a "talent hunt," according to a report in the New York Post, he has apparently done little talking with Woodson, who is expected to take the fall for the team's struggles. "We haven't had any conversations," Woodson said. "My focus mainly has been on getting the team in the playoffs and when that time comes, it will happen."
ABOUT THE HEAT (52-23): James has had to carry the bulk of the scoring load while swingman Dwyane Wade continues to recover from hamstring and Achilles injuries. Wade remains without a timetable to return, but James said his teammate is "looking better and better every day" and believes that "probably within the next week he should be back on the floor." Wade has been limited to 51 games this season but has been effective in limited action, averaging 19.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Miami has taken two of three in the season series, most recently a
108-82 laugher Feb. 27 in which James led the way with 31 points on
13-of-19 from the field.
2. James averages 28 points in 36 career games against the Knicks.
3. The teams have split their last 10 meetings dating back to their 2012 playoff matchup.