MIAMI (Ticker) -- The only thing predictable about a New York Knicks-Miami Heat postseason series is its absolute unpredictability.

The NBA's biggest rivarly continues tonight when the Knicks visit the Heat for the pivotal fifth game of their deadlocked Eastern Conference semifinal series at American Airlines Arena.

Home-court advantage has been wrested away twice already in this series. But where these teams play has had very little to do with the outcome in each of the previous three postseasons encounters.

The Knicks won back-to-back decisive Game 5s on Miami's home floor each of the previous two seasons after losing Game 7 of the conference semifinals on the road in 1997.

A heartbreaking 77-76 overtime victory at Madison Square Garden in Game 3 on Friday appeared to give the Heat an edge not only in momentum, but in karma. Rookie Anthony Carter's improbable behind-the-backboard layup found its way through the net with 2.2 seconds left in the extra session, giving the Heat back their home-court edge and putting the pressure on New York.

The Knicks responded in Game 4 as point guard Charlie Ward had a playoff-best 20-point performance to spearhead his team to a 91-83 triumph.

"Whenever I can score it's a plus but my game is playing with energy and energizing the guys on defense, steals, hustle plays and rebounds," Ward said. "That's what I try to bring to this team."

Ward had his way with Carter, who played the majority of minutes at the point in place of injured Miami playmaker Tim Hardaway. Heat coach Pat Riley announced Tuesday that Hardaway would start Game 5 despite his continual struggle with plantar fasciatis.

Miami center Alonzo Mourning had 27 points and 14 rebounds in defeat, thoroughly outplaying New York pivotman and fellow Georgetown alum Patrick Ewing.

"I've got to stay on Zo (Alonzo) a little bit more," Ewing said. "I'm trying to help a little bit too much and leaving him wide open on the rim and he's taking advantage of it."

But Mourning, who was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, missed four crucial free throws in crunch time and committed a game-high nine turnovers.

"I don't think it was anything they did," Mourning said of his poor ball management. "It was just the decisions that I made personally and when you are in a tough series like this you almost have to be mistake free and (Sunday) we definitely weren't."

New York's 1-2 punch of Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston has had to work extra-hard for open looks in the series, resulting in subpar performances in three of the first four games by the tandem.

Houston scored 17 points and Sprewell added 16 in Game 4 and both will likely need to produce more offense in Game 5 for the Knicks to prevail.

These teams have exchanged wins and losses the last nine playoff meetings since the Knicks won Games Four and Five in the 1998 first-round series.

Game 6 is Friday in New York.