NEW YORK _ This was not a night to exhale, which the Miami Heat nearly did.
Taking far longer than expected to seize control against an opponent that fell to 14-62, the Heat eventually pulled away for a 100-92 victory Saturday night over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The net gain in the competitive lower portion of the playoff bracket in the Eastern Conference? Zilch _ with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic all also winning.
So it's still No. 8 for the East, albeit back to .500 at 38-38, a half-game ahead of No. 9 Orlando but also just one game behind No. 6 Detroit.
Going in Heat guard Dwyane Wade said, "We understand obviously every game it mean something in the standings of the playoff push."
Especially the ones you have to win, like this one.
"If anything," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "it's just gotten closer in the last two weeks. But, again, everybody knows what's at stake."
Dion Waiters led the Heat with a season-high 28 points, with backcourt partner Goran Dragic adding 10 points and 10 assists. Emmanuel Mudiay led the Knicks with 24 points.
The Heat trailed 33-29 at the end of the opening period and 61-55 at halftime.
It was 79-79 going into the fourth quarter, with the Heat opening the period with an 8-0 run. The Knicks did not score their first points of the fourth quarter until Mudiay converted a technical free throw with 8:11 to play.
