Heat knock out Knicks, Grizzlies shave deficit
Miami — The Miami Heat moved into the second round of the NBA playoffs with a 106-94 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday that completed a 4-1 series victory.
LeBron James had 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade both scored 19 points for the Heat, who progressed to a second-round series against the Indiana Pacers, starting in Miami on Sunday.
“We will savor this win tonight,” James said. “And then we get to work tomorrow and get ready for Indiana.”
Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points for the Knicks, but it wasn’t enough and the man chosen two spots behind James and immediately ahead of Bosh and Wade in the 2003 NBA draft has now won just two of 11 postseason series.
New York’s Amare Stoudemire scored 14 points before fouling out, Landry Fields and J.R. Smith both scored 12 and Tyson Chandler grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Knicks cut the margin to 11 points four times in a 2-minute span, and Miami answered every time, the last of those a 3-pointer by Shane Battier with 54 seconds left.
That sent the white seat covers flying in all corners of the arena, the fans knowing it was finally over.
The first game day salvo came eight hours before tipoff, when Wade sent a verbal jab toward former teammate Mike Bibby.
“I know Mike has made more shots in this series than he made all last year. I know that. Send that to Mike,” Wade said.
Bibby averaged 0.5 points in first-quarter appearances this season, but he scored eight in the opening minutes Wednesday as the visitors jumped out to a 14-8 lead.
Grizzlies 92,
Clippers 80
In Memphis, the hosts avoided elimination by beating Los Angeles and cutting the series deficit to 3-2.
Marc Gasol scored 23 points and Zach Randolph added 19 for the Grizzlies, who looked more like the team that knocked off top-seeded San Antonio last season and took Oklahoma City to seven games in the conference semifinals.
Game 6 is Friday in Los Angeles. If the Grizzlies can win, Game 7 would be Sunday in Memphis.
Rudy Gay added 14 points for Memphis.
Mo Williams had 20 points for the Clippers while Chris Paul scored 19 and Blake Griffin had 15 points and 11 rebounds. /ap
