Knicks welcome Heat to Garden

The Knicks come into tonight’s game 10th overall in the East, two games out of a playoff spot. The Heat, meanwhile, are seventh overall in the conference.

Miami’s playoff ideas took a hit last week when All-Star guard Dwyane Wade dislocated his left shoulder against Houston. The Heat went on to loss that game and then fell to the Mavericks on Thursday before bouncing back with an 86-81 win over Cleveland on Sunday.

Shaquille O’Neal picked up the slack in Wade’s absence, scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds to lead Miami past Cleveland. Jason Kapono also posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards while Alonzo Mourning poured in 15 points off the bench.

The Heat are now playing the waiting game with Wade, who is still weighing his medical options with season-ending surgery a possibility.

The Heat will travel to Washington, which they trail by 4 1/2 games for the lead in the Southeast Division, on Wednesday and are 11-18 as the visitor this season.

The Knicks also had a chance to make up playoff ground on Sunday, but fell to the New Jersey Nets, 101-92.

Stephon Marbury had 22 points for the Knicks, who have alternated wins and loses over their past eight games. Eddy Curry donated 18 points and Channing Frye tallied 15 points off the bench for New York.

Forward David Lee sat out for the second time in three games on Sunday with a high right ankle sprain. He is questionable for tonight’s game as is guard Steve Francis, who is out with the flu.

New York is 15-13 at home on the season, but will play in Boston on Wednesday.

This evening’s game will mark the fourth and final matchup between the two clubs this season. New York owns a 2-1 edge over the Heat so far this year, including a 116-96 home win on January 26 to end a five-game series home losing streak.

The Heat, though, swept a three-game series last year and a four-game set in 2004-05 and have won nine of the last 12 overall.