MIAMI: The New York Knicks enjoyed a second 20-point win over the defending NBA champion Miami Heat in just over a month yesterday, giving them the belief that this year they can compete when it matters in the post-season.
Last year, New York lost all three regular season games to their Eastern Conference rivals Miami and then fell 4-1 to the Heat in the first round of the play-offs.
For Knicks’ centre Tyson Chandler, who was part of the Dallas Mavericks team that defeated the Heat in the 2011 finals, Thursday’s victory was a big psychological boost.
“It is important to know how to beat a team. Last year, things were very different, we got smacked around by them last year,” he told reporters after getting nine rebounds and putting up 13 points in the 112-92 win.
“It’s important that you take a little from each game. When it comes down to it, we will have to go through a team like this in the play-offs,” he added.
But Chandler said it was important that the Knicks did not let victory go to their heads.
“It’s one game. It’s a big win though, it’s in the conference but we have to keep our focus,” he said.
“We played a great defensive game. LeBron is a special talent ... but for the most part we kept everyone else in check,” he added.
REUTERS
