Heat Steamroll Francis-less Knicks at Garden
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With Steve Francis not yet in uniform for the Knicks, the Miami Heat certainly had the best backcourt on the floor last night.
Dwyane Wade and Jason Williams each had 24 points and five assists, and the Heat beat New York 103-83 for their fourth straight victory.
Antoine Walker added 16 points for the Heat, who have won nine of 11 overall and six in a row against New York.
Stephon Marbury returned to the Knicks lineup after missing eight straight games and 11 total with an injured right shoulder. Francis appeared at a pregame press conference, but won’t make his Knicks debut until at least Friday night against the Nets.
Shaquille O’Neal added 15 points and made sure Knicks center Eddy Curry couldn’t stay on the court. Curry had three fouls in four scoreless minutes in the first half and fouled out after playing only 17 minutes.
Channing Frye had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost 17 of 19. Marbury was 2-for-11 and had seven points in 30 minutes.
The Heat shot 23 free throws in the first half, while the Knicks were 3-for-4.
