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. 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. Kevin Faulk Jersey . Paul George and Darren Collison each scored 17 points and Roy Hibbert added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers (9-3), who won their third straight. Stephon Gilmore Youth Jersey .Y. -- A month ago, Syracuse was unbeaten, ranked No. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/E...atriots-Jersey/. Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations. Kevin Faulk Patriots Jersey . They probably ruined Tim Duncans hopes of a career change, though. Duncan wants to be a point guard, coach Gregg Popovich revealed Saturday, a wish that wont be granted. Drew Bledsoe Patriots Jersey . His Chicago Blackhawks teammates werent shocked when he found it. Kanes career has been defined by his brilliance in the Blackhawks biggest moments, and his tiebreaking goal with 3:45 to play in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals will rank among the best.MILWAUKEE -- Inning after inning, the St. Louis bullpen got into tough jams in a one-run game. Marco Gonzales and five fellow relievers staved off every advance, getting a huge boost from a game-saving catch in centre field by Peter Bourjos. The bullpen combined for six innings of one-run ball and the Cardinals held off the slumping Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 Thursday night for their sixth straight win. "We had guys picking each other up all night," manager Mike Matheny said. The Cardinals moved to a season-high 14 games above .500 and extended their lead to four games in the NL Central over the Brewers, who lost their ninth straight St. Louis used the bullpen early after Michael Wacha was limited to three innings in his first start off the disabled list. Gonzales (2-2) went 2 1-3 innings for the win. "The bullpen came in there and shut the door for those last six innings," Wacha said. "That was fun to watch." The Brewers stranded potential tying runs in scoring position from the sixth through the ninth, the latest frustrating loss for a team that was in first place just 10 days earlier. Manager Ron Roenicke at least he liked the fight he saw in his club. "We hit a lot of balls hard. Either they made a really good play on it or we hit it right at em," Roenicke said. St. Louis never trailed after Yadier Molinas two-run single in the first off Wily Peralta (15-10). Still, the Brewers had numerous chances to snap out of their two-week funk. Seth Maness got the Cardinals out of the sixth by inducing Logan Schafer to fly out in foul territory with a runner on third. Carlos Martinez got third-place hitter Jonathan Lucroy to pop out to end the seventh with another runner on third. In the eighth, the Brewers put runners on first and second with nobody out against Pat Neshek. The side-arming right-hander bounced back by getting Martin Maldonado to pop up a bunt attempt before Schafer hit a hard-hit fly that was tracked down by Bourjos at the centre-field wall for the second out. "I thought that ball waas gone.dddddddddddd I did. I thought it was out. Just an incredible catch. Hes not just fast -- hes got good instincts and great jumps," Matheny said. Jean Segura sent a flare to left fielder Matt Holliday, ending the threat in the eighth. NEARLY THERE Schafer thought the ball would get over Bourjos head. He was surprised when Bourjos tracked it down, though Schafer knows Bourjos is an excellent fielder. The eighth inning exemplified the recent difficult stretch for the Brewers. "We were in it the whole time," Schafer said. "Again, were just waiting for that big hit." FINISHING IT OFF The Cardinals used six relievers in all, with closer Trevor Rosenthal issuing two walks to put runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth. Rosenthal got pinch-hitter Jason Rogers to fly out to the edge of the warning track in right for his 42nd save. TRAINERS ROOM Cardinals: Wacha threw 50 pitches and struck out three. He allowed three hits, including Lucroys RBI single in the first. The right-hander had been on the disabled list since June 18 with a right shoulder injury. Brewers: Carlos Gomez pinch ran but remained out of the starting lineup with a left wrist injury. Roenicke said his leadoff hitter was feeling good, and the team doctor would re-evaluate Gomez in the hope that he might be able to return soon. Gomez has been sidelined since Monday. UP NEXT Cardinals: John Lackey (2-1) gets the start Friday, when he hopes for a repeat performance of his first start with the Cardinals after being traded from Boston. He gave up two runs in seven innings in a 3-2 victory. Brewers: Mike Fiers (4-2) is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two career starts against the Cardinals, both coming in 2012. BABY BRAUN Ryan Braun missed a second straight game following the birth of his daughter Wednesday night. The right fielder appears likely to return for Fridays game. "Id like (him) and Gomey in the lineup," Roenicke said. "But youve got to do what youve got to do. This is obviously the most important thing in his life." ' ' '