New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy says one win at Miami Arena isn't enough.
The Knicks landed the first blow Wednesday night, beating the Miami Heat 88-79 in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 2 is Friday night at the arena before the series moves to Madison Square Garden."Miami was the best road team in the league this year," Van Gundy said. "If you're counting on winning just one game here and winning the series, you're making a mistake. We're going to have to win once, maybe twice more here to win the series."
Miami lost at home for the first time this postseason.
"It does put a little pressure on you," coach Pat Riley said. "We've got a real big, big game on Friday."
New York stole the homecourt advantage with near-perfect free-throw shooting in an otherwise messy game. While the Heat made just 18 of 31 from the line, the Knicks sank 30 of 32.
"Obviously free throws are very important in the playoffs," Van Gundy said. "We hit an extraordinary percentage."
The Knicks improved to 3-0 this season at Miami Arena. Transplanted New Yorkers cheering for the Knicks made up a fair portion of the sellout crowd of 14,870.
New York's Allan Houston had 27 points. Patrick Ewing added 24 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks for the Knicks, who scored 16 consecutive points in the third period to take the lead for good.
"It was that one gigantic run that did us in," Riley said. "They played as good as I've seen any team play for those six or seven minutes."
A bruising series was anticipated between two of the NBA's most physical teams, and foul trouble plagued Miami. Alonzo Mourning missed 19 minutes and Tim Hardaway 12.
"Why won't you let us play, man?" Mourning shouted to the referees at one point.
The Knicks shot just 36 percent and were held below 100 points for the first time in the playoffs. Ewing was 8-for-23.
"We're going to have to do a much better job offensively," Van Gundy said. "I thought they got much better shots than we did."
The Heat made only 37 percent. Hardaway went 7-for-17 and scored 21 points. Mourning added 20 points but hit only six of 13 free throws, drawing boos when he missed two tries with 1:14 left.
"There's nothing wrong with my stroke or my form," said Mourning, who is shooting just 48 percent from the line in the postseason. "I just might be in a slump."
Houston, who sank five of seven 3-pointers, scored 23 points in the second half. He is averaging 21 points in the playoffs.
"When you give him air space, it's going to be a dagger in the heart," Riley said.
The Knicks, playing for the first time in nine days, shot just 29.5 percent in the first 21/2 periods and trailed 52-44 before warming up.
Ewing, who limped out of the game moments earlier after taking a tumble, made a basket and two free throws to start the comeback.