Keith Van Horn had a steal and buzzer-beating dunk to cap a dominant first quarter, and the New York Knicks -- after making a trade for Moochie Norris -- cruised past the Miami Heat 102-73 on Tuesday night.

All the victories have come in convincing fashion as the Knicks have put together their first four-game winning streak in 23 months. The last three victories have all been by at least 20 points, the first time New York has done that since November 1997.

"It helps when you're winning and guys are in control out there. It doesn't put as much stress on the body or the mind," coach Don Chaney said.

Van Horn scored 22 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field in breaking 20 for the fifth time in six games. Shandon Anderson came off the bench to add 21, and Kurt Thomas had 14.

For the second straight night, the victory margin was New York's largest of the season. The Knicks' winning streak is currently the longest in the Eastern Conference.

"We're right there, we're not that far behind, we just have to keep reminding ourselves of what brought us to this point of winning four in a row," Van Horn said.

Before the game, the Knicks acquired Norris and center John Amaechi from Houston for Clarence Weatherspoon. Amaechi will be waived, Knicks president Isiah Thomas said after pulling off his first deal since replacing the fired Scott Layden.

Lamar Odom led Miami with 19 points.

Both teams were playing their fourth game in five nights, but only the Heat appeared fatigued.

Kurt Thomas hit a jump shot with 3:47 left in the first quarter to begin a quarter-ending 13-2 run that gave the Knicks a 28-14 lead. Miami never made a comeback, falling behind by 30 early in the third quarter on a jumper from the top of the key by Frank Williams.

"We've been in a very good stretch ... other than playing these guys," said Heat coach Stan Van Gundy, whose team lost to the Knicks by 20 points three nights earlier. "It's been the two real miserable nights for us, they've just really taken it to us."

The Knicks had been in buyout talks with Weatherspoon, who's signed for two more seasons for $12.2 million. Instead, Thomas found a trading partner in the Rockets who were in need of frontcourt depth since suspending and then releasing forward Eddie Griffin.

In Norris, the Knicks are adding another point guard to a roster that already includes three -- newly installed starter Williams and veterans Howard Eisley and Charlie Ward.

"It means added help. With the way Don (Chaney) wants to play, we want to give him the luxury of having different guys that can play a different tempo," Thomas said. "As we continue to shuffle and retool our roster, at some point in time we may have an overload at one spot."

The Knicks made two other moves to open space on the active roster for Norris and Amaechi, placing forward Michael Sweetney (knee tendinitis) and backup center Michael Doleac (back spasms) on the injured list.

New York used only eight players as Eisley, the starting point guard until a week ago, did not play. Thomas said no deals involving Eisley were imminent.

Chaney said it will be "virtually impossible" to keep four point guards in the rotation, and Ward sounded like he would not be surprised if he is the next to go.

"A lot of guys here have been on other teams, and I've been blessed to be on one team my whole career," Ward said. "My contract has always been one to be moved because I've been (mentioned) in trades for a very long time. So that's nothing different, and today is still the same thing. I'm still here, and I'm grateful."

Game Notes
The Knicks are considering signing forward Leon Smith of the CBA's Gary Steelheads. Smith, who worked out for the Knicks and was at the arena before the game, was the last first-round pick of the 1999 draft straight out of high school before being waived by the Dallas Mavericks. He played briefly for the Atlanta Hawks under current Knicks assistant Lon Kruger. "We looked at him and had a chance to talk to him, and later on down the road we'll probably revisit that," Thomas said. ... The nameplate over Weatherspoon's locker was missing before the game, though it had only come unglued and fallen to the floor. ... Miami rookie Dwyane Wade's streak of scoring in double figures ended at 15.