Knicks near playoff elimination as Miami Heat wins Game 3

The Knicks are going to need a miracle now.

LeBron James awoke from a third-quarter slumber with a vengeance to lead the visiting Miami Heat to an 87-70 victory over the Knicks on Thursday and a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series.

Miami dealt the Knicks a record-setting 13 successiveplayoff defeat dating back to April 2001 and put themselves on the brink of reaching the second round.

No NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs.

The undermanned Knicks, playing without Amar'e Stoudemirewho badly cut hisleft hand after hitting a fire extinguisher case in anger after the Knicks_Game 2 loss on Monday.

It_s unclear when Stoudemire can return to action.

James sat out the last seven-and-a-half minutes of thethird quarter after picking up his fourth personal foul in a ferocious defensive struggle that Miami led 58-56 going into the final quarter.

Two three-pointers and a follow-up from under the basket, all from James,powered the Heat to a 66-56 lead after 89 seconds of the fourth quarter, and Miami extended the lead to 77-62 to put the game out of reach.

James led the Heat with 32 points, 17 of them coming in the last quarter, and Wade added 20 points, including 10 in the third quarter to carry Miami in the absence of James.

Before his fourth-quarter burst, James had a frustrating game, committing eight turnovers in an ugly offensive showing from both clubs as players had a hard time dealing with the clawing defense played.

Carmelo Anthony shot a woeful seven-of-23 from the floor, but still managed to lead the Knicks with 22 points.

The Knicks shot just 32% in the loss.

J.R. Smith added 12 points, while Tyson Chandler posted 10.

Game 4 will be played at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

(with Reuters)