Heat-Celtics game directly affects Knicks

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- If the playoffs started Monday, the Knicks would be playing Miami. Instead, they're playing at Indiana Sunday night, and paying a lot of attention to what is going on in Miami Sunday afternoon.

A win by Boston Sunday in Miami would all but clinch second place for the Celtics, as they own the tiebreaker over the Heat. That would mean that if the Knicks hold on to sixth place, they would play the third-place Heat in the first round.

Of course, there's a chance that the Knicks, who will play the Pacers without Amar'e Stoudemire, could fall out of sixth and end up playing Boston.

Head spinning yet? Welcome to the tightly packed Eastern Conference in the final games of the regular season.

Because the Knicks can't predict whom they are going to play, they are trying to downplay the different scenarios. But that doesn't mean they don't know which series most of their fans would like to see.

"I think Miami would be a fan-favorite matchup, I'll tell you that," said Stoudemire, who will miss his second straight game Sunday night with a sprained left ankle. "They have great stars, great players, and we have the same here, so it would be great for the fans to see. But it would definitely be a tough matchup."

Stoudemire believes the fact that the Knicks beat the Heat in Miami this season would give them some confidence going into that series.

"I also think we're playing better basketball now than we did down in Miami at that point," he said. "But they are also. They're playing great. Whether or not we play them, we're going to have a tough first-round matchup."

The Knicks have won six straight games after a 1-9 streak in which they lost six straight. Stoudemire will be with the team but will be on the bench in street clothes. He said the ankle is feeling better and indicated he will play in at least one of the Knicks' final two regular-season games -- against Chicago at the Garden on Tuesday or at Boston on Wednesday.

Carmelo Anthony, who is averaging 31.1 points in his last seven games, has been playing against LeBron James since the two were high school stars. It's clear that he wouldn't mind taking their friendly rivalry to a new level.

"We're both top competitors in our sport," Anthony said. "I like to win. He likes to win. And we bring out the best in each other."

Coach Mike D'Antoni said that no matter which team the Knicks play, they are going to have a tough challenge. "It's two great teams and we'll have to play exceptionally well to beat them," he said. "Whoever it is, it is. I hope we can catch the team that's not playing well, but I don't know who that is, to be honest with you."