After the scandal bets illegal sports that broke out this week and for which its player Terry Rozier was arrested, the Miami Heat achieved its second consecutive victory this Sunday in the just started regular season of the NBA.
Mexican-American Jaime Jaquez Jr. (17) and Italian Simone Fontecchio (14) combined for 31 points off the bench and sealed the Miami Heat’s first home victory of the season, over the New York Knicks by 115 to 107.0
Miami was coming off a convincing victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, two days after the arrests of Rozier (for illegal sports betting), Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups (for his involvement in illegal poker games), and former player and assistant coach Damon Jones (implicated in both cases), as part of an FBI investigation.
“We had a competitive spirit from our players,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We have shown ourselves committed to the idea. It wasn’t our best game, but the desire to win can take you very far.”
Norman Powell, who played his first season with the Heat, was his team’s leading scorer with 29 points, including 12 from the free throw line.
Miami’s defensive effort paid off, limiting Karl-Anthony Towns to just 15 points on 43 percent shooting from the field.
