Miami Heat burned the New York Knicks 87-83 in the opener of the second-round playoff series in Miami Tuesday and will try for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
The Knicks didn't make a basket in the final 5:34 and Alonzo Mourning didn't miss in the final minute, scoring as he took a feed from Dan Majerle giving the Heat a 2 point lead with only 41.8 seconds to go.
Miami regained possession when PJ Brown tipped an Allen Houston pass and Mourning swished a 17-footer with 5.6 seconds left.
Brown set heat playoff records with nine rebounds in the first quarter and 12 in the first half.
LAKERS CRUSH SUNS 105-77
The LA Lakers crushed the Phoenix Suns 105-77 in the opener of their Western Conference semifinals.
Shaquille O'Neal overcame a 1-for-7 shooting performance in the first quarter to score 37 points, seize 14 rebounds and block four shots.
"When I get the ball in the blue area, there's not much anybody can do. I'm a pretty skillful guy," AP quoted O'Neal.
Game 2 will be held Wednesday at Staples Center before the best-of-seven series moves to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4 - (Several Sources).
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
