2012 NBA Playoffs

Carmelo Anthony dropped 41 points and Amar'e Stoudemire racked up a double-double as the New York Knicks lived for another day after pulling off a gutty 89-87 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 4 of their first-round series Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

With their backs against the wall, Anthony and the Knicks gave their fans something they had been longing for a long time after winning their first playoff game for the first time since 2001.

Anthony shot 15-for-29 from the field and 10-for-14 from the free-throw line to fuel the Knicks offense, while Stoudemire returned from a hand injury and delivered 20 points and 10 boards in 35 minutes of action.

However, the Knicks' much awaited playoff win was marred by an ugly injury to Baron Davis, who dislocated his right kneecap while driving hard down the court in the third quarter.

The Heat seemed poised to close out their first-round series after taking a 44-38 lead into the second half but Anthony and Stoudemire came up big in the third quarter as the two superstars carried the Knicks scoring load in that period.

Loaded with weapons in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the Heat remained dangerous down the stretch until Anthony unloaded a tie-breaking trey with 54.5 seconds left in regulation.

James again pulled the Heat within a single point, 88-87, after completing a three-point play with 20.3 second remaining on the clock but Stoudemire split his trip from the free-throw line and Wade missed a three-point hurl at the buzzer.

James finished with 27 points and Wade added 22 points for the Heat, who went just 3-for-19 from beyond the arc.

Still with a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Heat will once again attempt to advance in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win against the Knicks Wednesday at American Airlines Arena.

 

 

Carmelo Scores 41: Knicks Avoid Sweep; Top Heat in Game 4