Wade wins in Garden finale
Dwyane Wade felt something special about Madison Square Garden since first stepping on its floor during his sophomore season in college.
The 13-time All-Star bid farewell to the arena Saturday night by planting a kiss on the Knicks logo at center court.
Dion Waiters scored 28 points, Wade added 16 and the Miami Heat beat the Knicks 100-92.
“You love playing here. You hear about it,” said Wade, who stuck around after the final buzzer to take in the love from the crowd that serenade him with chants ofD`-Wade! DWade!' throughout the night.
“When I played in college, I got the opportunity to play here, the Coaches vs Cancer Classic. It was just immediately, that feel, and the feel was there. Getting an opportunity to play (here) in the NBA has been special.”
Wade had 17 points in leading Marquette past Villanova in that game on Nov. 15, 2002.
Wade had back-to-back baskets in Miami's 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter after the game was tied through three.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra thought of the old HeatKnicks rivalry and found the pro-Miami crowd like something of the Twilight Zone.
“To hear all the cheers and all theL`et's Go Heat,' it all feels strange but that is the impact of a Hall of Fame player and I am glad he is on our side,” Spoelstra said.
Hassan Whiteside finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat, while Kelly Olynyk chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds. Goran Dragic had 10 points and 10 assists. The Heat have won six of their last eight games and hold a half-game lead over Orlando for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference.
Emmanuel Mudiay scored 24 points for the Knicks, who have lost six straight and 14 of 15.
Wade, a three-time NBA champion, received a nice hand from the Garden crowd when he walked to the scorer's table for the first time midway through the first quarter. Wade was then greeted with a standing ovation when he checked into the game with 4:37 left in the period.
“As a player, this is your last time and just want to enjoy it,” Wade added. “I know the fans stayed around and that was so cool, man, to be able to have that. You expect it at home maybe your last time but on the road you don't expect that.”