Knicks top Heat behind Melo’s 50
MIAMI — Carmelo Anthony tied his career high with 50 points and the New York Knicks won their ninth straight game, topping the injury-depleted Miami Heat 102-90 on Wednesday night.
Anthony finished 18 of 26 from the field, reaching 50 on a jumper with 16.9 seconds remaining. J.R. Smith scored 14 and Raymond Felton added 10 for New York.
Chris Bosh scored 23 points for Miami, which played without LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers, all held out with injuries that are not believed to be serious.
Mike Miller scored 18, Ray Allen finished with 16 and Norris Cole had 14 for the Heat, whose 17-game home winning streak was snapped.
The Knicks beat the Heat in three of their four regular- season matchups. They likely would not meet again before the Eastern Conference finals.
Miami’s magic number for clinching home-court throughout the NBA playoffs remained at five, and the Heat already have the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference wrapped up.
The Knicks now lead Brooklyn by five games in the race for the Atlantic Division title.
It was only Miami’s second loss in its last 31 games.
Much of the star power was taken out of the equation more than eight hours before game time, when the Heat announced that James, Wade and Chalmers would not play.
James has a sore hamstring, and Wade and Chalmers are dealing with ankle sprains.
All are listed as day-today.
“The No. 1 thing, obviously, is try to get as healthy as we can,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Obviously, that’s a priority. From there, we have time to still try to improve — not just stay in rhythm, but to improve, and also get these guys an opportunity that haven’t been getting minutes to play in these meaningful minutes.
“We didn’t script San Antonio or this like this to happen, but that’s what this league is about. It’s unpredictable.”
IN ANOTHER GAME:
Wizards 90, Bulls 86 at Washington: John Wall had 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, Emeka Okafor scored the go-ahead dunk in the final minute and Washington won their eighth straight home game, beating temperamental Chicago.
Wall was 8 for 17 from the field and 11 for 13 at the free throw line as the Wizards maintained pursuit of their goal of becoming the best team not to make the playoffs.
They want to pass the Philadelphia 76ers and finish ninth in the Eastern Conference — not bad for a team that started 4-28 — and Tuesday’s win left them 2½ games back with eight to play.
Wall is averaging 23.7 points and 8.6 assists during the home winning streak.
Carlos Boozer had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bulls.