Dwyane Wade scored a career-high 55 points to help the Miami Heat tune up for the playoffs with an impressive 122-105 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.

The victory ensured the Heat (42-38) would be seeded fifth in the Eastern Conference and Wade emphasised Miami's desire to maintain momentum into the post-season.

"This was not just another game," Wade, who had twice scored 50 points, told reporters. "It was an important game."

He missed Glen Rice's team record by a point.

"He could have went for a million the way he was shooting," said teammate Michael Beasley, who finished with a career-best equalling 28 points and a personal best 16 rebounds.

Wade nailed six three pointers on his way to scoring 50 or more points for the third time this season after he hit the ground running from the opening tipoff.

"Early on I was on the court and had it locked in," said Wade, who scored 16 points in the first quarter. "I knew it was going to be one of those nights."

The NBA's leading scorer hit his 50th point with 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter and left the game with 1:06 to go in the fourth.

Al Harrington and Wilson Chandler each tallied 21 points for New York (31-50).

(Reuters via China Daily April 14, 2009)