Beasley has been highly productive offensively, averaging 25.3 points and 12.7 rebounds. He tied a career-best with 28 points against New York and grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds. He had 25 points and nine rebounds against New Orleans and 23 points and a then-career-best 13 rebounds against Boston. Coach Erik Spoelstra likes what he's seeing.

"He's been coming along and we don't have a lot of options other than to play him there, so that could be a crutch defensively there for him, knowing that he's not going to get yanked for the first one or two or three or four mistakes," Spoelstra said.

"But he's playing through it. That's what he needs right now, is he need repetitions."

Defensively, Beasley remains a work in progress. But offensively he's playing like a veteran.

"Offensively, right now, he's finding a rhythm, he's finding a groove. He's understanding our offense not only when we post him or ice him, but also our pick-and-roll game he's getting more efficient with that.

"But defensively, he is making some steps. It's still not totally consistent where we want it to be, but he's getting better with the reps, and these are critical minutes right now. But with that said, he can't back up now."

HEAT 122, KNICKS 105: G Dwyane Wade scored a career-best 55 points as the Heat clinched the fifth playoff seed on Sunday. Miami needed help and got it when Toronto defeated Philadelphia minutes after the Heat's game against New York concluded.

But Wade was amazing.

"This was not just another game," said Wade, whose point total was one point shy of Glen Rice's franchise record of 56 points. "It was an important game."

Rookie F Michael Beasley tied a career-best with 28 points and established a career best with 16 rebounds.