Heat grab 12th winning streak with a 97-82 victory over Knicks
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-20 11:38

Shaquille O'Neal scored 33 points and Dwyane Wade had 30 to lead the Miami Heat to their 12th straight win Saturday night, a 97-82 victory over the New York Knicks.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal (32) goes strong to the basket against New York Knicks forward Michael Sweetney (R) during the fourth period in Miami, Florida, March 19, 2005. O'Neal was the high scorer with 33 points as the Heat defeated the Knicks 97-82. [Reuters]

O'Neal also grabbed 17 rebounds as Miami won its 15th straight at home and swept the four-game season series with New York for the first time in franchise history.

O'Neal and Wade became the first Heat duo to each score 30 points or better in the same game since Glen Rice and Khalid Reeves did it in 1995 against Philadelphia

Miami, which has won 19 of 21, never trailed after a late first quarter run and built the lead to double figures in the second quarter.

The Knicks cut a 17-point halftime deficit with a 14-4 spurt to start the second half.

Wade stopped the run with an acrobatic three-point play, when he drove deep in the lane, bumped into Kurt Thomas and converted on a shot with his back to the basket. The Knicks vehemently argued Thomas was in position to draw a charging foul but Thomas instead was called for the block.

New York remained within striking distance behind two 3-pointers from Jamal Crawford, his second cutting Miami's lead to 71-63 with 47 seconds remaining in the third period.

Wade scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and the Knicks never could get closer than 75-66 with 9:48 in the game.

Stephon Marbury led New York with 23 points, while Crawford finished with 20 points.

O'Neal scored six points in a 12-point run, which pushed the Heat's lead to 45-27 with 3:30 remaining in the second quarter.

The Knicks twice had nine-point leads in the first quarter, including a 15-6 advantage after Kurt Thomas' field goal with 7:02 remaining.

But the Heat, paced by Eddie Jones' seven points, ended the first on a 19-6 run. Jones finished the quarter hitting all five of his shots.

Notes: Wade has scored 30 or more points in 11 games this season ... Christian Laettner hurt his right foot late in the second quarter and did not return ... The Knicks are 13-19 in back-to-back games this season. They completed their 16th set of back-to-back games and have another five remaining this season ...The Heat were called for four defensive 3-second violations ... Movie director and Knicks fan Spike Lee attended the game ... Thirteen-year-old Lateefah Dooling, a cousin of Heat reserve guard Keyon Dooling, sang the national anthem.

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