Heat vs. Knicks Game 2.: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The Miami Heat and New York Knicks series was supposed to be one of the more intriguing matchups of the first round of the NBA playoffs. But judging by Game 1 of the series, this is a matchup that may be over before it even got started.

The Knicks will have a second shot against the Heat tonight, after getting blown out on Saturday by a score of 100-67. New York will try to even the series before they take it back to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Thursday.

With the game getting closer to tipoff, here's everything you need to know about Game 2.

Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL

When: 7:00 p.m. ET, April 30, 2012

Watch: TNT/MSG

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Betting Line: Heat -9.5

Key Injuries (via CBS Sports)

Heat—No injuries to report

Knicks—Baron Davis (probable with a knee injury), Iman Shumpert (Out with a knee injury), Jeremy Lin (Out with a knee injury)

What's at Stake

The Knicks potentially trailing 0-2 and the Heat taking complete control of this series is what's riding on Game 2. New York would still have a chance going back home, but they'd put themselves in a serious hole, with their backs against the wall.

What They're Saying

Rookie combo guard Iman Shumpert suffered a season-ending knee injury in Game 1. Shumpert averaged a little over nine points a game and was a key defender for this team. Head coach Mike Woodson talked about the loss:

"

It's a big blow. But again, that's the whole beauty about having a pretty solid basketball team. Someone else has to step up now. He won't be back this season. It's what it is and we've got to keep it moving.

"

LeBron James talked about the Game 1 struggles of Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and how he expects him and the team to bounce back after a poor performance:

"

That's what great players do. They make adjustments and come in for Game 2 and be better. We understand that. We know that as a team that it starts with him. He's the head of their snake. He wants to play well. He has to play better than he played yesterday. We know that. But we'll be in tune with our game plan.

"

Most Important Player to Watch: Knicks Forward Carmelo Anthony

Speaking of Carmelo Anthony, he has to be the most important player heading into Game 2. In Saturday's blowout, he shot 3-of-15 from the field and only scored 11 points. This is the Knicks' best player and by far the best scorer; the team will only go as far as he carries them, and he'll need to have a much better performance if New York stands a chance in this series.

I expect to see Anthony take control and try to will his team to victory. Now, whether it'll be enough is a different story, but it's the only chance New York has at this point.

Key Matchup: J.R. Smith and Landry Fields vs. Dwyane Wade

We can talk about the matchup of LeBron and Carmelo all day long, but I'm interested to see how Woodson replaces Shumpert. It'll obviously be a combination of J.R. Smith and Landry Fields, but will they be able to pick up some of the defensive slack they lose with that injury?

Shumpert was an absolute beast on the defensive end of the floor and helped hold Wade to a quiet 19 points and five turnovers (most of any Heat player in Game 1). Smith was a great contributor off the bench for the Knicks (17 points and four rebounds), but he'll have to play well on both sides of the floor to keep his team in the game.

Prediction

I do expect the Knicks to have a much better performance than they did in Game 1, but I still don't see them winning this game. We can talk about how poor the Knicks played, but some credit has to go to that stifling defense of the Heat as well. They helped force 24 New York turnovers and held them to a low shooting percentage.  

Miami has been an extremely tough home team all year long, and it seems as though they quickly hit another gear once the playoffs started. I think this game will be a lot closer than the last matchup was, but the result will remain the same.  

Heat win, 97-86.