5. Wade Sparks Heat
Dwyane Wade returned from a hamstring injury on Sunday night, just in time to help his squad stave off a strong second half from the Knicks. Miami was 3-5 during Wade’s absence and his impact in its lineup was quite evident at MSG. The shooting guard hit 6-of-8 shots in the fourth quarter and registered 13 of his team-high 27 points. Wade’s offensive rebound and putback layup with four minutes left in the game pushed the Heat’s advantage to eight points. On the next possession, Wade sunk a vintage 12-foot fadeaway jumper to increase Miami’s lead to double digits and it never looked back in the 86-79 road win.
4. J.R. Smith’s Minutes J.R. Smith only posted five minutes and change in the Sunday contest against Miami. Head coach Derek Fisher told the media following the game that Smith needed IV fluids at the morning shootaround and he was feeling sick prior to the contest, which resulted in the lack of court time.
3. Improved Effort
Fisher felt the overall team effort was much improved compared to Friday’s game in Oklahoma City. While the Knicks struggled to shoot from the 3-point line and the field, the production on the glass and inside the paint is worth noting. Yes, the amount of missed shots led to more rebounding opportunities but the 20 offensive boards helped keep New York within striking distance. Additionally, the Knicks found some success in the box by outscoring Miami 36-24 inside the paint.
2. Stoudemire’s Impressive Run
Amar’e Stoudemire continues to impress with a string of standout performances over the last 12 days. In Sunday’s game, Stoudemire started the second half and next to Carmelo Anthony, posted 19 points and 12 boards on 53.8 shooting from the floor. Stoudemire also registered a season-high in minutes (36).
1. Melo’s Return Remarkably, Anthony returned to the court less than a week removed from severe back spasms. Anthony could not even speak after suffering from the back issues in Houston. On Sunday, the All-Star shook off early rust and quickly returned to form by scoring 31 points and grabbing eight boards in front of the home crowd. Anthony played 41 minutes in the defeat and was back at work for Monday’s practice session at MSG Training Center.