The action was no less fierce in Indiana, where the Pacers held off the Magic to even their opening-round series.
And Oklahoma City was a little less theatric in its second win over the defending champion Mavericks, beating back Dallas at the wire.
Here are the recaps from the games that took place Monday, April 30. Be sure to check out more of our in-depth Associated Press recaps and previews.
Miami Heat 104, New York Knicks 94
MIAMI — Drops of blood stained the carpet leading up to the back entrance of the New York Knicks' locker room. The glass portion of a nearby fire-extinguisher case was quickly replaced. And Amare Stoudemire needed doctors and paramedics to treat a cut on his left hand.
Game 2 probably wasn't all the Knicks lost in Miami on Monday night.
Stoudemire left the building with his arm in a sling and what appeared to be a bulky wrap over his left hand, long after the Heat took control of the teams' Eastern Conference first-round series with a 104-94 win over the Knicks, going up 2-0. Read the complete story here.
Indiana Pacers 93, Orlando Magic 78
INDIANAPOLIS — The challenge before the Indiana Pacers wasn't about game plans, execution or matchups. It was simply about toughness.
An Orlando team without its top rebounder, injured All-Star center Dwight Howard, dominated the boards in the first half to take a two-point lead. The heavily favored Pacers stewed in their locker room as they faced the possibility of taking a two-game deficit to Orlando for Game 3 on Wednesday.
The Pacers responded, asserting complete control inside during the second half of a 93-78 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. Read the complete story here.
Oklahoma City Thunder 102, Dallas Mavericks 99
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook scored 29 points, Kevin Durant added 26 in an off shooting performance and the Oklahoma City Thunder clawed out a 102-99 victory over defending champion Dallas on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. Read the complete story here.