Heat vs. Knicks: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More
In what could be a preview of a first-round NBA playoff series, the Miami Heat will battle the New York Knicks in a statement game for both teams.
The Heat have struggled against quality teams of late and the Knicks are trying to better their record and playoff seeding, which means this game has importance for both teams.
Miami cannot afford to drop many more games or they won't catch the Chicago Bulls for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, so Sunday's game is crucial for them.
Let's look at a complete preview of this awesome matchup:
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
Watch: ABC
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
When: Sunday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Spread: TBD
Key Injuries (Via USA Today)
Heat: Dwyane Wade (G), Mike Miller (G) and Udonis Haslem (F) are all probable for Sunday's game.
Knicks: Iman Shumpert is questionable and Amare Stoudemire (F) is out of Sunday's game
What They're Saying
Knicks head coach Mike Woodson recently talked about Amare Stoudemire's injury, saying via ESPN New York:
""He seemed to feel pretty good today so we'll take it another step tomorrow and see where he is," Woodson said before Friday's Knicks-Wizards game. "But again he's still day-to-day because I think the doctors still have to have some say in what happens."
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Without Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire, the Heat will face a Knicks team they are not used to. LeBron James recently addressed this, saying via the Sun-Sentinel:
""So, it's a different team," James said. "You've seen 'em at the beginning without Lin, then with Lin in the lineup, then without Amare, with Amare. Now Melo's playing the four, which is a matchup problem for everybody. So it's a different team, but it's a really good team."
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Most Important Player to Watch: Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh has been wildly inconsistent this season and has to start improving his game as the playoffs near. He cannot afford to struggle offensively, because the Heat's bench is not very good and there is little offensive firepower at the forward spot.
Bosh needs to be more physical and aggressive at both ends of the floor to give the Heat the best chance to defeat quality teams.
Key Matchup: Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James
The matchup at small forward between Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and Heat star LeBron James will decide this game.
Both players are responsible for a lot of their team's offense each night, and also do a nice job of making their teammates' jobs easier.
If Anthony can play solid one-on-one defense and not allow James to dominate under the bright lights of New York, then the Knicks will have a chance to win the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Heat win, 105-96
With no Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire, the Knicks won't be able to match the Heat's offense and will lose in an exciting, high-scoring game at the Garden.
