4 Nov 2012

Knicks win rousing season opener over champion Heat

7:26 am on 4 November 2012

While the New York City Marathon was called off as resentment grew in the wake of the devastation wrought by superstorm Sandy, the NBA basketball didn't stop - with the New York Knicks thrashing the visiting champions Miami Heat 104-84.

Carmelo Anthony helped lead the Knicks to the rousing win in New York City's first sporting event since the devastating impact of the powerful superstorm Sandy.

Anthony topped all scorers with 30 points, and long-range shooter Steve Novak had 17 points in New York's season opener.

LeBron James scored 23 points to pace Miami, who dropped to 1-1 after an opening win against the Boston Celtics.

It was the Knicks' first home game since last season's opening-round playoff series against the Heat, which they lost in five games. The Heat also beat New York three times during the regular season, so the Knicks had something to prove.

The Los Angeles derby took place on the west coast with the less-fancied team also getting up over their more storied opponents as the Clippers piled more misery on their cross-town rivals the Lakers with a 105-95 win at the Staples Center.

Despite the addition of high-profile recruits Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, the Lakers were 0-8 in preseason and have started the NBA regular season with three straight defeats - their worst start since the 1978-79 campaign.