By Simon Evans

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Miami Heat suffered their worst home defeat of the 'Big Three' era as the defending champions crashed to a 112-92 loss to a New York Knicks team without their star forward Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks have sole leadership of the Eastern Conference with a 14-4 record, ahead of the Heat who slip to 12-5.

Raymond Felton top scored for New York with 27 points, including six of 10 on three point throws, as the Knicks flourished despite the absence of Anthony, who has an injured finger.

For the Heat, LeBron James put up 31 points with 10 rebounds but it was a quiet night for Dwyane Wade, who was three of 13.

The previous worst home loss since James and Chris Bosh teamed up with Wade in Miami was a 97-82 defeat by Memphis on April 6, 2012.

The teams went in level 53-53 at halftime but the Knicks came out aggressively after the interval, winning the third quarter by ten points and then repeating that difference in the final period.

(Reporting By Simon Evans. Editing by Patrick Johnston)