Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET the New York Knicks (12-22), winners of two straight games, will host the defending champion Miami Heat (27-8) in a tough litmus test that might prove the blue and orange have finally turned the corner this season. Watch the game on TNT or live stream it here. Heat fans can catch the radio broadcast on 560 WQAM, while Knicks fans can listen in on 98.7 ESPN New York.
Carmelo Anthony will be leaned on tonight to help fend off LeBron James and the Heat, and head coach Mike Woodson is praying for a repeat of Tuesday night's 34-point, six 3-pointer outburst vs. the Pistons.
"He's capable of doing that," Woodson said. "Some nights you have to expect that from Melo, but it can't always be Melo." For one night it likely will have to be 'Melo, with several Knicks battling a flu outbreak.
The Knicks are also contending with the distraction of reserve guard J.R. Smith's erratic behavior. Smith was fined for a second instance of untying an opponent's shoes, adding to a growing list of obnoxious transgressions that has the Knicks seeking trade partners.
The Heat have needed second-half comebacks on many a night this year, but they don't seem concerned with their best efforts coming late. "We're an old team, man," Dwyane Wade said. "It takes us a while sometimes to get the juices flowing. Playing against a lot of young teams, they come in loose, ready. We've got to get our body going a little bit."
Dealing with James, healthy or not, will be a monumental challenge for a club that's been defensively challenged all year and has already ruled out center Tyson Chandler. LeBron leads the Heat in points (25.5), rebounds (6.7), and assists per game (6.5).
If the Knicks can keep him under wraps, though, they will have their first three-game winning streak of the season.
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