Slam Dunk Central

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The Miami Heat finally got off the schneid, winning their first game by defeating the New York Knicks 75-72.? The game itself was rather uninspiring, offensively.? Neither team shot especially well; New York shooting 37.3% from the floor, with Miami doing only a little better, shooting 43.8%.?

Miami led after one quarter 25-20 and after a hook shot by Heat center Shaquille O’Neal, were ahead 34-25.? the Knicks scored the next 10 points, then went into halftime with a 39-37 lead after Knicks guard Stephon Marbury’s 3-pointer with 37 seconds left in the half.? Even though the Heat scored only 27 points combined in the second and thrird quarters, they stayed in the game and were only down by one with just under 5 minutes to play after 5 points from Miami guard Ricky Davis.? However, they turned the ball over on 2 consecutive possessions, with Knicks forward David Lee’s dunk on the second possession giving the Knicks a 70-67 lead with 3:24 left.

New York center Eddy Curry added 2 free throws for the Knicks, but that would be it for them.? Miami pulled the game out with consecutive baskets by Heat F Udonis Haslem and after a New York turnover, G Jason Williams hit the game-winning jumper.? Curry led the Knicks in scoring with 19 points, with Marbury and Lee adding 14 points each.?

Miami was led by the aforementioned Williams with 17 points, while Haslem added 16 and 16 rebounds.? The Heat (1-5) next game is Tuesday when they fly to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats, while New York goes west to Phoenix to play the Suns, also on Tuesday.?