SIT THEN SHOOT: J.R. Smith, reacting after hitting a 3-pointer in the third quarter of last night’s 101-83 win over the Bucks, paced the Knicks with 30 points off the bench. (N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg)
The Knicks staged the 40th anniversary ceremony of their last championship team last night at halftime and Carmelo Anthony staged another 40-point night.
Oh, what a night of history colliding.
After the celebration of the 1972-73 team, the current Knicks went out in the third quarter and had a celebration of their own and played like champions, especially a record-setting Anthony.
The winning streak is alive at 11 with a 101-83 victory over Milwaukee as Anthony tied the club record set by Bernard King of three straight 40-point games, accomplished in the 1984-85 season. Anthony now has 131 points in his last three games (50, 40, 41).
“He is playing phenomenal,’’ coach Mike Woodson said.
After trailing by nine at halftime, the Knicks exploded with a 42-point third quarter, as Anthony scored 18 of his 41 points. The spree was capped by a 59-foot, buzzer-beating bank shot by Jason Kidd.
“That was the championship team out there and that’s our goal,’’ said Anthony, who shot a blistering 17 of 28. “Today was a legendary game with all the legends in the house. It’s an inspiration to know that history, know what they’ve been able to do. They’re fans of ours as much as we’re fans of theirs. Great night, great feeling for us and the legends.’’
Anthony hit a 3-pointer with 1:30 left to get him to 41 points and tie King’s record as the crowd chanted “MVP’’ while he dribbled down the shotclock.
King — who will be named as an inductee into the Hall of Fame Monday, sources told The Post — wasn’t in the Garden last night, but members of the ’73 title team were in attendance, including Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Willis Reed, Phil Jackson and Clyde Frazier.
J.R. Smith had 30 points and ignited the club in the third quarter as the Knicks shot 69.6 percent. Kidd launched his heave from just past the 3-point line in the backcourt, banking it in. Another celebration took place as Kidd hugged almost every Knick as he got to the bench.
“That was a big third quarter for us and everything was going in,’’ Kidd said. “When you have the legends in the house, you want to play well. When you see those guys that were on the championship team, hopefully we can win one, too.’’
During the halftime ceremony, Monroe told the Garden crowd, “Let’s keep our hands crossed, our fingers crossed for the current team to lead the club to another championship in 2012-13.’’ Several of the legendary Knicks sat on celebrity row in the first half, including Jackson who was accompanied by fiancée Jeanie Buss.
The Knicks were down 57-48 with 8:46 left in the third before their explosion.
“We were playing horrible in the first half, so sluggish,’’ Anthony said. “We came in here in halftime. Guys got amped up for the second half. We came out in the third quarter blazing. Rasheed [Wallace] came in here at halftime yelling. I think the legends heard ’Sheed and they were on the court [for the ceremony].’’
Anthony and Smith took turns battering the Bucks in the third. At one juncture, they combined to hit five straight 3-pointers. Smith won last week’s Player of the Week honors and Anthony is in line to win the award for this week’s showing with another solid outing tomorrow in Oklahoma City.
Anthony has been lightning since his knee was drained more than three weeks ago.
“It’s April,’’ he said. “It’s time to go. I always take it back to my knee. That was the most important thing to happen to me, getting to the bottom of that. I give credit to getting that procedure done.’’
The 2012-13 Knicks players met the 1972-73 Knicks two hours before the game during their walk-through.
“We didn’t want to lose this streak tonight,’’ Raymond Felton said. “We didn’t want to lose in front of those legends. It gives us that inspiration since it’s been that long since a champion.’’