Heat Ends Losing Streak With Victory Over Knicks

There was something quite different yet something very familiar as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat renewed their rivalry.

The faces had changed but the intensity was the same as the Heat got big games from big men Brian Grant and Anthony Mason on Wednesday night to defeat the Knicks, 84-81, at New York.

Exploiting their size advantage at every opportunity, the Heat got 24 points and nine rebounds from Grant and 19 points and 18 rebounds from Mason in a game they controlled most of the way.

Grant missed two free throws that would have secured the victory with 9.6 seconds to play, but Chris Childs came up short on a three-point shot with two seconds left to end New York’s only chance in the final minute.

“It was cool. Both teams were really playing to win,” Grant said. “It wasn’t as vicious as what I usually see on TV, but I can see where it’s going to get like that later.”

The Heat ended a four-game losing streak and won for only the sixth time in 15 games. In the final seconds, Riley turned to the fans seated behind him and gleefully shouted: “It’s the worst month I ever had, but it’s November. It’s over.”

Vancouver 109, Phoenix 106--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who hung on in double overtime at Vancouver, Canada.

Jason Kidd scored a season-high 34 points for the Suns but missed a three-point shot that would have sent the game to a third overtime.

Philadelphia 93, Washington 87--Allen Iverson scored 29 points and Theo Ratliff and Eric Snow added 18 each for the 76ers at Philadelphia.

Charlotte 103, Toronto 79--David Wesley scored 32 points at Charlotte, N.C., to lead the Hornets to their sixth consecutive victory.

The Raptors were without injured star Vince Carter for the second consecutive game.

Detroit 97, New Jersey 76--Jerry Stackhouse scored 31 points and Ben Wallace pulled down a career-high 23 rebounds to lead the rout at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Denver 107, Minnesota 100--Nick Van Exel scored 30 points to lead the Nuggets at Minneapolis.

Utah 88, Orlando 86--Karl Malone had 27 points and 11 rebounds at Orlando, Fla., to lead the Jazz to its fifth consecutive victory.

San Antonio 82, Sacramento 79--Tim Duncan had 22 points and 13 rebounds and made two key plays for the Spurs in the final minute at San Antonio.