NEW YORK - While the records may not indicate it, Thursday nights battle between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden should be a marquee matchup. [url=http://www.oriolesapparelsshop.com/]Baltimore Orioles Jerseys[/url] . The Heat are back near their usual perch atop the basketb

NEW YORK - While the records may not indicate it, Thursday nights battle between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden should be a marquee matchup. Baltimore Orioles Jerseys . The Heat are back near their usual perch atop the basketball world, but the Knicks struggles this season have been well documented. You can watch all the action as part of an NBA on TSN doubleheader beginning at 8pm et/5pm pt. The latest problem for the Knicks involves J.R. Smith and it might have been one of his worst transgressions. The NBA fined Smith $50,000 on Wednesday for "instances of unsportsmanlike conduct," stemming from two incidents where Smith tried untying an opponents shoelaces. After the first, Smith was warned by the league, but he did it again, and is $50,000 poorer. His coach is no longer amused. "Im not happy about this because he was warned, he comes back, and he makes the same mistake, and its not right," head coach Mike Woodson told ESPN New York 98.7 FM. "Its just got to stop. I keep saying this every time something pops up, but its got to stop." On the court, Smith hasnt been anywhere near as good as last season when he won the Sixth Man of the Year award. He is averaging 11.3 ppg and shooting 34.8 percent from the field. Despite Smiths antics, the Knicks have been playing well of late. Theyve won two in a row and three of four, but are just 1-4 in their last five at MSG. For the season, the Knicks are a disappointing 5-12 at home. On Tuesday, New York took care of its business at home with an 89-85 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Carmelo Anthony poured in a game-high 34 points and Andrea Bargnani registered a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Raymond Felton scored 12 points for New York. Tyson Chandler missed the game with an upper respiratory infection and is listed as questionable. The Knicks are 14 1/2 games behind the Heat in the Eastern Conference. Last season, these teams finished Nos. 1 and 2, and the Knicks beat the Heat three times in the regular season, including both trips to Miami. The Heat have been very strong of late, winning three straight, five of six and 11 of 13. Theyve won three consecutive road games and that will help as they embark on a six-game odyssey with visits to New York, Brooklyn, Washington, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Atlanta. "It felt like we just got home," said LeBron James, referring to the teams recent four-game trip out west. "We have to refocus on what the road is all about. "The Knicks are playing much better than they were. Its the Mecca of basketball. Its always great to be there." On Tuesday, the Heat overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half, thanks to James, and bested the New Orleans Pelicans, 107-88, in South Beach. James scored 19 in the third quarter alone and finished with 32 points. "I was able to get into a good rhythm and just try to keep it going and regain some momentum," James said of his third-quarter performance. Dwyane Wade added 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for Miami, which outscored the Pelicans 64-39 in the final 24 minutes after trailing by six at halftime. Chris Andersen added 15 points off the bench on 7-of-7 shooting. The Heat were without starters Mario Chalmers (Achilles) and Shane Battier (quad). Both players are considered day-to-day. While the Knicks won three of four last season, the Heat are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings between the teams. Miami has won five of its last seven in Madison Square Garden. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER AT DENVER NUGGETS DENVER - After an eight-game losing streak, the Denver Nuggets have won three straight, but will face a stiff challenge Thursday night when the Oklahoma City Thunder head to the Pepsi Center. Catch the action as the second part of an NBA on TSN doubleheader at 10:30pm et/7:30pm pt. The Nuggets havent looked back after the disastrous run over the holidays. They snapped the slide at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, throttled the Los Angeles Lakers in Hollywood on Sunday, then squashed the Boston Celtics by 31 at home on Tuesday. Randy Foye had 23 points, Ty Lawson scored 19 with 13 assists and the Nuggets led wire-to-wire in a 129-98 rout of the Celtics. Kenneth Faried added 21 points and 13 rebounds and J.J. Hickson scored 17 for the Nuggets. Denver coach Brian Shaw received two technical fouls and was ejected with 2:43 left in the third for arguing with officials during a timeout while his team was up by 28. "We punish criers. We dont cry," he said. "Fortunately for us, it wasnt a situation where it cost us." Denvers starting backcourt has been on a tear of late. Foye is 11-for-20 from 3-point range during the winning streak and Lawson has recorded four consecutive double-doubles. Wilson Chandler (strained left groin) and Nate Robinson (sprained right ankle) sat out practice on Wednesday and are listed as game-time decisions. The Thunder had a two-game winning streak and eight-game road winning streak snapped on Tuesday with a 112-101 setback in Salt Lake City to the Utah Jazz. OKC has now dropped three of its last five. Kevin Durant tied an NBA season-high with 48 points to add to his seven boards, five assists and four steals, and Reggie Jackson added another 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals for the Thunder in their fifth road loss of the season. They were the only two Thunder players in double figures. "We fought but we cant play for just one quarter," Durant said. "We didnt have toughness tonight. Too many mental mistakes from everybody and they capitalized on it. You give a team confidence, theyre going to have it the whole game." The Thunders eight straight road victories entering the game was the longest for the franchise since Jan. 24-Feb. 27, 2002. Serge Ibaka didnt play against the Jazz due to flu-like symptoms and hes listed as day-to-day. The Thunder won the first two of this seasons matchups -- one in Denver and one in Oklahoma City. Those wins snapped a three-game series losing streak for the Thunder, who have lost nine of their last 12 in the Mile High City. Cal Ripken Jersey . The lightning strike was in the parking lot of Crew Stadium on Saturday night, but its not known if the off-duty lieutenant was struck directly, Columbus Fire Department Battalion Chief Tracy Smith said. The firefighter, identified as Lt. Brooks Robinson Jersey . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 16 rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings snap a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bulls 99-70 on Monday night. http://www.oriolesapparelsshop.com/adam-jones-jersey-c-6/ .Brady threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman midway through the fourth quarter, and New England beat the San Diego Chargers 23-14 for its eighth win in nine games.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It was a rough day for Danny Duffy. Fortunately for the Kansas City Royals, Will Smith was terrific. Smith replaced Duffy in the fourth inning and had a career-high eight strikeouts in a dominant relief performance, helping Kansas City beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Monday. Smith (2-1) allowed one hit in 4 1-3 innings. He finished with the most strikeouts by a Royals reliever since Tom Gordon struck out eight over 4 2-3 innings against Detroit on July 9, 1993. "Will was phenomenal, outstanding, great," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Man, what a job he did. It was evident from some of the swings they were taking they just had a real hard time picking up the ball. His pitches had action, deception and location." While Smith shined, Seattle ace Felix Hernandez lost his fourth consecutive start. The ace right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. Hernandez departed after his back cramped up while he was pitching to Alex Gordon. "The second pitch to Gordon I felt it cramping," Hernandez said. "Its just a cramp. Itll be OK." Mariners manager Eric Wedge said trainer Rick Griffin told him he did not think it was serious. Five of Smiths strikeouts took only three pitches. Kyle Seager, who had three of the Mariners seven hits, doubled off Smith with two out in the seventh, but it was a fly ball that centre fielder Jarrod Dyson lost in the sun. "The slider was working and the curveball, too," Smith said. "Its one of those days where everything was clicking. I just kept putting zeros up." Greg Holland pitched a one-hit ninth for his 37th save in 39 opportunities. The Royals scored two runs in the fifth to open a 3-1 lead. Dyson led off with an infield single and advanced to third on Alcides Escobars hit-and-runn single to right. Custom Baltimore Orioles Jerseys. Dyson scored on a wild pitch, and Escobar came home Emilio Bonifacios sacrifice fly. "Speed can do a lot," Dyson said. Hernandez (12-9), who has a 7.84 ERA in his losing streak, struck out Mike Moustakas in the sixth to reach 200 strikeouts for the fifth straight season. Duffy, who had elbow surgery last year, departed after 3 2-3 innings and 91 pitches. He was charged with one run and five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. "I didnt have it today," Duffy said. Seattle got its run when Brad Miller drove in Abraham Almonte with a two-out triple in the fourth. The Royals tied it on consecutive singles by Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Moustakas in the bottom half. "It was tough luck," Hernandez said. "A lot of ground balls to the outfield, it happens. I commanded the fastball better." Duffy threw 68 pitches in the first three innings and stranded six runners. He struck out Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak swinging to end the first with two runners on. Michael Saunders led off the second with a bunt single and Duffy walked Mike Zunino on nine pitches before retiring the next three batters. The Mariners went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. NOTES: Zunino was activated from the disabled list after five rehab games with Triple-A Tacoma. He went on the disabled list July 26 with a broken left wrist. ... Carlos Pena, whom the Royals signed to a minor league contract last week, went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs as Triple-A Omaha beat Round Rock to clinch the Pacific Coast League North Division championship. ... RHP Erasmo Ramirez will be added to the Mariners roster Tuesday and start against the Royals. 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