Knicks Win Big Without a Fight

MIAMI — No brawls. No violence. No contest.

The New York Knicks drew first blood Saturday against the Miami Heat, racing to a 30-point lead and routing their bitter rivals, 95-75, in Game 1 of the best-of-five series.

There was none of the punch-throwing that marked previous playoff series between the teams, although Miami’s P.J. Brown was ejected when he argued with an official after a minor skirmish with Chris Childs. Otherwise the Heat, top-seeded in the East, went down without a fight against the team that upset it in the opening round last year.

The Knicks won this time from the perimeter. Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell scored 22 points apiece, while the Heat’s four guards shot a combined seven for 36.

“You have to play with confidence in the playoffs,” Houston said. “It just so happens we play with a lot of confidence against Miami.”

The Heat now must win at least one game at Madison Square Garden, where they’re 3-21 in regular-season games. Game 2 will be Monday in Miami before the series shifts to New York.

“Today’s loss was as complete as it can be,” Heat Coach Pat Riley said. “There can’t be any lingering from this, other than the emotion you felt during the butt-kicking, and how that’s going to translate into Monday night.”

The Heat shot 35% in its most lopsided loss since the 1997 playoffs against Chicago. Alonzo Mourning had 27 points, but the other starters shot 24% (11 for 45). Tim Hardaway went four for 19 and scored only 10 points.

“I missed five or 10 open shots, and my teammates had open shots,” Hardaway said. “When you do that, and they come down and hit shots, it’s tough. But we’re men. We understand what went on. We’ve just got to come back.”

Patrick Ewing had 15 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Knicks, and their bench outscored Miami’s, 21-2, in the first three quarters.

The Heat’s frustration boiled over with 7:48 left when Brown swung a forearm in Childs’ face. Although there was little or no contact, Brown received a technical foul, and when he argued about the call, he received another technical referee Steve Javie, meaning an automatic ejection.