Heat vs. Knicks: Game 3 Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

What started out as a promising Game 3 for the New York Knicks against the Miami Heat fell apart down the stretch, as they coughed it up on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, 87-70.

The Heat showed they were the leading contender in the Eastern Conference, while the Knicks showed just how fragile they really are in the fourth quarter.

You can chalk it up, folks. Even if Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin return in Game 4, the Heat are going to sweep them out of the playoffs.

Tweets of the Night

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com tweeted at halftime:

"

Knicks really lost their composure with a 40-29 lead, let Heat back in this with 7-0 run. It's 40-36 at halftime.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) May 4, 2012"

The Heat got off to a slow start in the first half, though. 

Brian Windhorst of ESPN tweeted:

"

LeBron & Wade having dog games so far. 3-of-13 shooting combined. LeBron's made series of poor plays, Wade's been non factor.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) May 4, 2012"

Emo Chris Bosh wasn't feeling very well at halftime:

"

Knicks pushed us around in the 1st half. I haven't been bullied this bad since Ibaka smacked me in the back of my head & called me princess.

— Emo Chris Bosh (@EmoChrisBosh) May 4, 2012"

Not Bill Walton got a little, um, excited talking about Dwyane Wade's performance:

"

Dwyane Wade is a radioactive sea specimen of unknown origin, unleashing a colossal cascade of unforgiving antics into the heart of NY!

— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) May 4, 2012"

And Bleacher Report's own Wesley O'Donnell hit the nail on the head, as the Knicks struggled down the stretch:

"

Knicks really have nobody else that can create shots outside of Melo and JR. Ugly when neither of them can score.

— Wesley O'Donnell (@wesodonnell) May 4, 2012"

With their loss on Thursday, the Knicks set an NBA record not to be proud of, via ESPN's Brian Windhorst:

"

The Knicks have set an NBA record with their 13th consecutive playoff loss, dating to April 29, 2001.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) May 4, 2012"

Must-See Highlights

Despite a slow start in the first half, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were still able to treat us to yet another highlight-reel play.

J.R. Smith exploded to the rim and threw down a thunderous windmill dunk in the third quarter that brought Madison Square Garden to its feet...for a brief moment.

Grades for Key Heat Players

LeBron James: B

LeBron James didn't shoot particularly well, and he coughed the ball up way too many times, but he did contribute across the board, as always. James finished with 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but shot 9-of-21 from the field and committed eight turnovers.  

Dwyane Wade: A

Dwyane Wade scored at a high clip and was a disruptive force on defense on Thursday. He continues to prove he's a true leader. Wade finished with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals while shooting 8-of-17 from the floor.

Chris Bosh: B-

Chris Bosh didn't raise any eyebrows in Game 3, but he played a decent game, scoring when called upon and rebounding the basketball. Bosh ended with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Grades for Key Knicks Players

Carmelo Anthony: D-

Carmelo Anthony had a horrid shooting night when the Knicks desperately needed him, and he had his fair share of turnovers. He did post decent rebounding numbers, but he was worked by James, and James didn't even have his best game. He finished with 22 points and eight rebounds, but he committed five turnovers and shot 7-of-23 from the field.

Tyson Chandler: A

Tyson Chandler did what he always does on Thursday, crashing the boards and blocking shots. He showed that he deserved the Defensive Player of the Year award this season. Chandler ended with 10 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

J.R. Smith: C-

J.R. Smith's poor overall performance was overshadowed by a couple of electrifying dunks. He didn't shoot well for the game and didn't contribute much across the board. He finished with 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

Deciding Factor: Shooting

The Heat didn't even shoot that well this game, but it didn't matter...because the Knicks were simply horrible from the field, and that extended to the three-point line. The Knicks shot under 32 percent from the field and were 4-of-20 from downtown. 

Game MVP: Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade was incredibly efficient on Thursday, scoring at a high rate, taking care of the basketball and racking up steals. While James could make a case for himself, his turnovers and uncharacteristic shooting night makes him a close second. 

What's Next

The Knicks host the Heat in Game 4 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

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