Knicks 112, Heat 92
MIAMI -- In a battle between the two teams with the best records in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks -- playing without leading scorer Carmelo Anthony -- beat the Miami Heat, 112-92, on Thursday night.
It was the worst home loss in the Heat's LeBron James era.
Knicks point guard Raymond Felton, playing with an injury to his heavily-bandaged and bruised left hand, scored a season high 27 points and made a career-high six three-pointers.
He made 10 of 20 shots, including 6 of 10 three-pointers, and added seven assists with just three turnovers.
The Knicks improved to 14-4, the best record in the conference.
After a franchise record eight consecutive home wins to start the season, the Heat finally lost in at American Airlines Arena. Overall, the Heat are 12-5 with their first two-game losing streak of the season.
James fell short of a triple-double, scoring 31 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing 9 assists.
But the Knicks made 18 three-pointers, making 40 percent from deep, and turned the ball over seven times to break a five-game losing streak in Miami. The previous Knicks win in Miami came in February of 2011.
Anthony was injured Wednesday night in a win over Charlotte. He needed five stitches to close a cut on his left middle finger, an injury he suffered while diving into his team's bench to retrieve a loose ball.
Anthony had started every game this season until Thursday night. He is making more than $19 million this season, making him the second $19-million man the Knicks are missing at the moment. The other is Amar'e Stoudemire, who has yet to play this season and may return later this month. Also, the Knicks have also gone all season without standout guard Iman Shumpert.
The Heat, meanwhile, failed to avenge a 104-84 loss to the Knicks on Nov. 2 in New York.
Miami was coming off its worst performance of the season on Tuesday in an embarrassing 105-101 loss at Washington, which has the worst record in the NBA. The Wizards entered that game with only one win all season.
NOTES: In Wednesday's win over Charlotte, Knicks guard Jason Kidd -- fresh off of having missed four games due to a back injury -- came off the bench for the first time since 2004. On Thursday, Kidd was back in the starting lineup. ... Knicks reserve J.R. Smith said his game-winning shot to beat Charlotte was the first of his career, even dating back to high school. On Thursday, though, Smith was hit with a first-quarter technical for arguing a call. ... Heat forward Udonis Haslem, the franchise's all-time leader in rebounds, made his first start of the season Thursday. He replaced Rashard Lewis, who had started the past three games in place of injured Shane Battier (knee). Haslem is also playing hurt. He left Tuesday's Wizards game with a hip-pointer injury that he re-aggravated after taking a knee to the inflamed area. Battier played as a reserve on Thursday, entering the game in the first quarter. ... Heat point guard Mario Chalmers, who has started every game this season, was in the opening lineup despite an injury to his left ring finger. ... Next up for the Knicks is a trip to Chicago for Saturday's game against the Bulls. After the Bulls, the Knicks' perfect home record will be at stake against Carmelo Anthony's former team, the Denver Nuggets. ... The Heat, just 4-4 on the road this season, continue its six-game homestand Saturday against New Orleans.
