"Dwyane Wade was back. So was Micky Arison. No one wants to miss out on the action when the Knicks come to town.

The Heat defeated its Eastern Conference rival 99-89 on Friday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. It was the Heat's first game this season against the struggling Knicks, who have only won once in their past nine games. LeBron James led the Heat (14-5) with 31 points. He was at his best in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points while also effectively helping to contain the Knicks' barrage of three-point attempts.

"That's a good way to have a Friday night in Miami," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The Knicks (7-12) didn't have Carmelo Anthony. They barely had Amare Stoudemire. In their places were three-point prayers. The Knicks attempted more three-pointers (43) than any other opponent in Heat franchise history. The Knicks lost their shooting touch somewhere during the fourth quarter and couldn't keep pace with the Heat.

Spoelstra called it a three-point "party." The Heat was content to pound the Knicks inside. James and Wade combined for 10 dunks, their most together since James joined the Heat last season.

Wade announced his return from injury in the first half when he bounded past Landry Fields with his familiar "Euro-step" for a breakaway dunk. James said it was his favorite dunk of the night.

"I've seen that play before, but I didn't expect it [Friday night] in his first game back," James said."