New York Post

Spoelstra,Spoels Mike clear the air

- By MARC BERMABERMA­N

MIAMI — Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who has coached Michael Beasley three sepa-rate times, seemed surprised the surging Knicks forward threw a little shade in his direction. “Yeah, geez Beas, you threw me under the bus, man,” Spoelstra said. After Miami’s 107-103 overtime victory, in which Beasley scored 20 points in 23 minutes but also was injured after appearing to taunt the Miami bench, he and Spoelstra met on the court for a few words. Spoelstra was trying to clear the air.

Beasley had three stints with Miami, including his first two years after getting drafted No. 2 by Pat Riley.

Asked if he was surprised by Beasley’s comment, Spoelstra said: “No, it’s all good. I probably was crazy the first couple of years. I probably still am crazy.”

Beasley told The Post on Wednesday: “I feel I could’ve gotten more out of that organizati­on. I feel Spo could’ve believed in me a lot more than he did. It’s in the past. [There’s] no love lost.”

After Friday’s game, Beasley must have heard some nice things from his former coach.

“He’s an amazing coach but a better person,” Beasley said. “He wished [me] for the best, wished things could’ve been different. But it’s life. It’s how things move, how things work. But I wish him all the best, too.”

➤ As they wait for Tim Hardaway Jr. to return to practice in the next few days, Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek has no plans to insert Beasley into the starting lineup over offensivel­y challenged small forward Lance Thomas.

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