NEW YORK (AP) -- Tim Hardaway's next-to-last shot hit nothing but air. His final shot clanged hard off the rim.

Hardaway tried to win a Knicks-Heat game all by himself Tuesday night, but he missed his final two shots -- both from 3-point range -- to allow New York to escape with a 76-74 victory in another close contest between the archrivals.

"If it's the same situation tomorrow night, we want him to have the ball," Miami's Bruce Bowen said. "His nickname is 'Bigs' because he hits big shots."

This time, though, Hardaway didn't.

In a matchup highlighted mainly by defense, the Knicks outscored the Heat 16-12 in the fourth quarter. New York had only two field goals over the final six minutes, while Miami had just three over the same span.

"I thought our defense was better tonight," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "The biggest thing is we started to show our collective heart again. That's probably the one thing it takes for us to win in this league."

Latrell Sprewell led the Knicks with 17 points, while Larry Johnson had 14, Marcus Camby 13 and Allan Houston 12.

Anthony Mason had 17 points for the Heat.

The victory moved the Knicks back into second place in the Atlantic Division, just a few percentage points ahead of Miami.

After Eddie Jones stole the ball from Sprewell with 15 seconds left, Hardaway rushed a 3-point attempt that missed badly. It was his second airball of the night from 3-point range.

"It was designed to go to somebody, and I was going to surprise the guy and shoot a 3 -- but I shot an airball," Hardaway said.

Charlie Ward was fouled with 3.3 seconds left and made one of two from the line, giving the Heat another chance.

Hardaway attempted another 3-pointer just before the buzzer, and the shot bounced hard off the rim as time expired.

"Point-blank shot, I should have make it," Hardaway said. "I was wide open, faked the guy. I just missed."

Neither team led by more than five points over the first three quarters, and Miami took a 62-60 lead into the fourth.

The Heat committed three turnovers and missed their first five shots of the fourth quarter before Mason made one of two from the line with 7:30 left to cut Miami's deficit to 64-63.

The Knicks stayed ahead until Hardaway drove around Sprewell for an uncontested layup that made it 70-69 with 3:54 left, but Miami's lead lasted just 14 seconds before Houston hit two foul shots.

A turnover by Jones was followed by a layup by Camby for a three-point lead with 2:33 left, and New York held the lead the rest of the way.

Ahead 75-74, Sprewell missed a 3-pointer as the 24-second clock was about to expire with 34 seconds left. Camby grabbed the offensive rebound, and the Knicks ran 19 seconds off the shot clock before Jones sneaked up behind Sprewell and stole the ball to set up the final sequence and Hardaway's final two misses.

"I thought they were going to go to (Brian) Grant, he was going so well for them, but I guess they were going for the win," said New York's Chris Childs, who defended Hardaway down the stretch.

"You know Tim. He's always running his mouth. It's just due that he shot two airballs," Childs said.

Game notes
Houston, whose name has popped up in trade rumors recently, said he does not expect the Knicks to pull off a major deal. "Earlier in the season I thought we'd do something more than I do now," he said. ... Othella Harrington of the Knicks sat out his third straight game. He has played only 91 minutes since being acquired from Vancouver 10 games ago. ... Comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his wife, Jessica, attended the game. Also seated on Celebrity Row was Magic Johnson.

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 Coach Pat Riley felt the Heat had the opportunity to beat the Knicks.
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