Knicks Bounce the Heat

After more than 239 minutes, the Miami Heat and New York Knicks’ first-round series, and their seasons, came down to the final 4.5 seconds and the ball in Allan Houston’s hands Sunday.

Houston shot a running 14-foot jumper, and the ball hovered above the rim as the final seconds ticked away, before falling with 0.8 seconds left.

The score: Knicks 78, Heat 77. The series score: Knicks 3, Heat 2. For the second year in a row, goodbye, Miami.

Terry Porter’s desperation 40-footer at the buzzer was off-line. It was the third winner-take-all playoff game in the past three years between the teams. Miami eliminated New York in Game 7 in 1997; the Knicks beat the Heat in the deciding Game 5 last season.

“This one obviously hurts us a lot more than last year,” Miami Coach Pat Riley said. “Life in basketball has a lot of suffering in it, and we will suffer this one.”

The Knicks became only the second No. 8 seed in NBA history to defeat a No. 1 seed, joining Denver in 1993.

Miami led, 77-74, before Patrick Ewing sank two free throws with 40 seconds left. Sprewell then knocked the ball away from Tim Hardaway, forcing the turnover that gave the Knicks their last chance.

Sprewell and Ewing tried to run a pick-and-roll on the right side, but Sprewell lost the handle while guarded by Porter.

Inbounding in front of the Heat bench with 4.5 seconds to go, Charlie Ward threw the ball to Houston at the top of the circle, who worked around Dan Majerle and put the winner.