Postgame Breakdown: Heat 93, Knicks 87

NEW YORK - Bright lights. National TV spotlight. Christmas day game. Madison Square Garden. Dwyane Wade at the finish. What could be better for the Miami Heat?

A victory. A much-needed, swagger-building victory.

The Heat handed itself a gift on Christmas with Friday's 93-87 victory against the woeful-turned-hopeful Knicks to kick off five nationally televised Christmas games. Wade scored 30 points, Michael Beasley added 19, Udonis Haslem contributed 12 and Jermaine O'Neal and Mario Chalmers each added 11.

It equated to the Heat's fourth victory in the past five games, and a bit of a defensive resurgence. Beasley and Wade provided just enough offense to complement another solid defensive outing for the Heat, which improved to 7-0 this season when holding opponents to fewer than 90 points.

"They do play good defense," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "You have to give them credit."

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Wade was less than spectacular. Until the fourth quarter, when he scored 10 of his team-high 30 points. He scored eight consecutive Heat points to keep his team from squandering all of what was a 14 point lead at one point early in the fourth quarter. Wade showed again that he's gradually getting his lift back. His dunk straight down the lane and over the entire Knicks defense was one of his most explosive of the season. Wade talked about how special of a stage Madison Square Garden offers elite players. He did his best to live up to the moment - and the building. Wade was 11 of 21 from the field, 7 of 8 from the free-throw line and had nine rebounds, five assists and four steals. He also had four turnovers, including one that triggered the Knicks rally from that 14-point deficit. But overall, this was more in line with the type of games he delivered on a regular basis last season.

TURNING POINT: The Heat used a modest 15-7 run to create its largest lead of the game at 72-58 on  Beasley's driving, pull-up jumper over Al Harrington with 8:46 left in the game. Miami was aggressive on both ends during the mini-spurt, driving everything into the lane. The Heat was also 8 of 8 from the foul line, with Haslem contributing from the line and the field.

WINNING EDGE: In a game that was decided by six points, the Heat's 27-18 edge in points scored at the free-throw line was significant. Miami was 20 of 24 from the line in the second half.

HEAD-SCRATCHER:For all of Wade's late-game highlights, the Heat actually established its largest lead with Beasley carrying the scoring load and Wade resting on the bench at the start of the fourth. When Wade came back in, the offense was all about him. And just when the Knicks started to overload on Wade, he dished the biggest assist of the game on Jermaine's jumper. You have to scratch your head and wonder if it was pure coincidence that this team was more efficient when running the offense through Beasley than through Wade for that stretch. Other than that, I also scratched my head after the game when Wade ended his media session amid laughter by saying he could no longer talk about LeBron James and free agency "because that's tampering." Wow. So now, all of a sudden, that's the case?

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Beasley's two rebounds in more than 34 minutes of action left a lot to be desired in that category, but he was there yet again to carry the offense when Wade was out. He also did a decent job of scoring with Wade on the floor. It was especially encouraging to see Beasley stop settling for long jumpers. His shot-fake and drive from the three-point line against Al Harrington in the fourth quarter was a thing of beauty. He's 6-9, with handles and a crafty dude around the basket. He only limits himself when he bails the defense out by pulling up for jumpers. Beasley closed with 19 points and was 7 of 16 overall, but 5 of 8 in the decisive second half.

NEXT UP: Pacers at Heat, 6 p.m. Sunday - AmericanAirlines Arena

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Comments

[black the trucker]

good win, dorel, manup, you have to be more aggressive, you are better than you play, bring your A game from the tip to the buzzer and i think you make this team that much better... o'neil, good shot down the stretch, your midrange jumper is and will be needed... wade, good show... charlmers, step your game up... beasley, you should be able to do this every game, get focused... anthony, you have 6 fouls, play hard and keep up the work... the defense is and has to be the staple of this team... every game... low scoring, ok... just win baby... i would still look at maybe camby, and now little nate... jones and exception for camby.. cook, quinn, second round pick for nate... but if the grizz want to deal, beasley, cook, 1st round pick for gay and thabeet... enjoy your holiday...7

[UD's biggest fan]

Great postgame analysis. I can't quibble with any of the observations.

I guess Wade wanted to give NYers a show. It's a good thing we won after they made the game close in the 4th.

Merry Christmas.

[cp12]

Spo has to really figure out how to mesh Wade and Beasley's games together and not as seperate entities. And Arroyo does a great job with the offensive sets. He should stay the starter.

[redbaby]

Good win and exposure for the Heat. Hey, there was even a Cook sighting. Hope to see more of him!

[jpejeff]

It always feel good to beat NY in any sport.Great win and good coverage.Lets get
one at home. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

[SATANLOVES]

GO HEAT! Arroyo as the starter is working but he needs more minutes when he is playing well, Spo force feeds too many minutes to certain players and never plays Beaz at the end, that needs to change.

[black the trucker]

i think keeping haslem, o'neil, qrich, charlmers, wade to close games is a good lineup... but the pick and pop with wade and o'neil needs to be used more... if there were a way to get amare here i would like to see that pick and roll or pick and pop set... one thing i noticed is that portland is not going to trade bayless... they see what i have seen for a little while... he's good and he's not going anywhere... but on the flip side memphis doesn't use thabeet because they like offense... but he's a good defensive stud and trying to make a move for him would help down the line... more like mutombo jr. .... and golden state, really i don't know what they think, but morrow and randolph could help down the line too, get him in the gym put some meat on him and he could be solid... the cavs showed something every team has to pay attension to, with some taller inside players who get physical with gasol and bynum, they are beatable in a 7 game series... but i think that we need some kind of help for the hawks and the magic, celtics, cavs of the world... and if bosh doesn't come whats plan b... and why not use those picks in a trade for players who can play now instead of future maybees...the defense is and has to stay stout, but why not go after gay and thabeet now, he wants to come here so why not go out and get him... beasley,cook, 1st round pick for gay and thabeet... jones and the exception for camby... this way you already have the two and three positions in place... either trade for the four or wait for the offseason... and charlmers has to get his mind right, but if he doesn't does harris make any sense... hey next game will be a battle, we need a five game winning streak or we need to win the next five games...7

[taheati]

Q: Ira, please print this so Beasley can read it: You're too soft! You're never going to be an effective power forward if you keep fading away from the contact. Get in there and be a man about it. -- Peter.

A: But would you add the exclamation point if the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Beasley was standing next to you? THE APPROACH IS MORE A PART OF MICHAEL'S QUIRKY, LEFT-HANDED STYLE, THAN NECESSARILY SHYING FROM CONTACT. He did get six free throws against the Knicks, so that's a start, but it certainly would have been nice to see more than two rebounds.

---

Oh my gawd.

Did the Sun-Sentinel's Mr. Basketball just blame Beasley's "softness" on left-handedness?

Which just happens to be Winderman's excuse for being a playground pariah as a child? Hey IW, just guessing, but could NOT PICKING YOU have anything to do with that palm-paddling ball-slapping waddle you call a dribble?

OH MY GAWD.

And this guy is supposed to be The Face of Miami Heat media coverage?

More like, DEFACE(d).

( source: http://www.apbr.org/lefties.html )

Bill Russel, southpaw

Willis Reed, southpaw

Bob Lanier, southpaw

Billy Cunningham, southpaw

Dave Cowens, southpaw

David Robinson, southpaw

Bill Walton, southpaw(?)

To name just a few ...

... and more recently

Chris Bosh, southpaw

Josh Smith, southpaw

Zach Randolph, southpaw

David Lee, southpaw

Lamar Odom, southpaw ...

[black the trucker]

all that? well, anyway...