Knicks rally in fourth to defeat Heat
New York Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari (8) reacts after hitting a three point shot to give the Knicks the lead in the fourth quarter during against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. (Jan. 27, 2011) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Riding waves of emotion, Landry Fields hurled his body into the first person he saw.
Had he stopped and considered the target, the 6-7 rookie likely wouldn't have plowed into the much smaller Toney Douglas. But these situations have been few and far between for the Knicks, and Fields was lost in the moment.
"I was just thinking, 'Whoever was coming off that bench first was going to get a really big chest-bump,' " Fields said with a laugh. "Toney looked at me and said, 'Man, you knocked the wind out of me.' "
Fields followed Danilo Gallinari's go-ahead three-pointer with a three of his own, making the Garden crowd erupt with 49.2 seconds left. Those baskets, which gave the Knicks a five-point lead, plus Raymond Felton's four free throws in the final 15.2 seconds helped them outlast the Heat, 93-88, Thursday night.
Amar'e Stoudemire scored 24 points for the Knicks (24-21), who outscored the Heat 29-15 in the fourth quarter and won for the first time in three games against Miami. Gallinari had 20 points and Fields added 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Dwyane Wade, who sported orange-tinted glasses to help relieve migraine symptoms, had 34 points, 16 rebounds and five assists but was 0-for-7 in the fourth quarter and 6-for-14 overall from the foul line. LeBron James added 24 points and 11 rebounds but shot only 7-for-24 for Miami (31-14). Chris Bosh did not travel with the Heat because of a sprained left ankle.
The Knicks had lost 10 straight to James-led teams, including five at the Garden. Their last home win against him was on Dec. 19, 2007. They also had lost seven straight to Miami, including three at home.
But coach Mike D'Antoni challenged his team to play smarter, to play tougher, to be better. And after 30 minutes it seemed the Knicks had heeded the message, keeping pace with the Heat, which held a 48-46 halftime advantage. Then the Knicks, who were outrebounded 29-16 in the first half and trailed by nine after the third quarter, fought their way back in the fourth.
And while the Knicks surged behind clutch shooting from Stoudemire, Gallinari and Fields, Wade's game faltered.
"I went to the bench in the fourth quarter and when I came back in, I trusted my teammates and gave up the ball and the shots just didn't go down," said Wade, who was forced to switch to orange goggles after the NBA determined his dark-tinted pair gave him an unfair advantage because opponents couldn't see his eyes.
"I was doing what I was supposed to and playing kind of point guard at that time and facilitating and we got some good shots, they just didn't go in. Before that I was real aggressive and playing a different role."
Down the stretch, it was the Knicks who were playing a different role. Energized by the crowd, they outrebounded the Heat 17-12 in the fourth. The Knicks shot only 6-for-19 in the quarter but held Miami to 5-for-21 shooting.
"Everybody has to be ready and we all got to help in the crucial moment," Gallinari said. "The most important shot can get in your hand whenever, so you have to be ready."
In front of a star-studded crowd that featured Magic Johnson, Howard Stern, Kanye West, Joe Klecko, Dave Winfield, rapper Swizz Beatz and his wife, R&B singer Alicia Keys, every Knick was ready to play.
Said Felton, "It was like a playoff game."
