Knicks Take Opener Against Heat, 88-79

NBA playoffs

The New York Knicks kept Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway on the bench long enough to beat the Miami Heat.

Taking advantage of Miami’s foul trouble and Allan Houston’s 27 points, the Knicks won 88-79 Wednesday night in the opening game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Game 2 in the best-of-7 series will be played Friday in Miami.

Patrick Ewing had 24 points and 16 rebounds for New York, which scored 16 straight points in the third period to take the lead for good.

A bruising series had been anticipated between two of the NBA’s most physical teams, and foul trouble plagued the Heat, with Mourning missing 19 minutes and Hardaway 12.

“Why won’t you let us play, man?” Mourning shouted to the referees at one point.

Tim Hardaway scored 21 points for Miami.

Knicks 88, Heat 79

New York (88) - Johnson 4-8 6-6 14, Oakley 3-7 5-5 11, Ewing 8-23 8-8 24, Houston 8-19 6-7 27, Childs 1-5 1-2 4, Starks 1-8 2-2 4, B.Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Ward 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 26-73 30-32 88.

Miami (79) - Mashburn 5-14 1-2 14, Brown 2-7 2-2 6, Mourning 7-16 6-13 20, Lenard 0-6 2-2 2, Hardaway 7-17 6-8 21, Austin 2-5 0-0 4, Majerle 2-6 0-2 4, Crotty 2-3 1-2 5, Askins 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 28-76 18-31 79.

New York 23 14 29 22 - 88

Miami 23 16 16 24 - 79

3-Point goals-New York 6-14 (Houston 5-7, Childs 1-2, Johnson 0-1, Starks 0-4), Miami 5-25 (Mashburn 3-7, Askins 1-2, Hardaway 1-6, Mourning 0-1, Crotty 0-1, Majerle 0-3, Lenard 0-5). Fouled out-Childs. Rebounds-New York 57 (Ewing 16), Miami 53 (Brown 12). Assists-New York 14 (Johnson, Ward 5), Miami 19 (Hardaway 6). Total fouls-New York 25, Miami 28. Technical-Hardaway. A-14,870 (15,200).