For most of the afternoon, the Knicks did what they wanted to do on Sunday. In the second game of a back-to-back, they were tied with the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat with just over four minutes left at the Garden.
Then Miami — off to a slow start this season — did what it wanted to do. The Heat used its experience and fortitude to outplay the Knicks when it mattered most and left town with a 109-103 victory.
The Knicks (11-14) and Heat (9-14) will match up again on Tuesday in Miami. By then, the Knicks may have Derrick Rose in uniform after they agreed to reacquire the former NBA MVP from the Pistons in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr.