NBA

Knicks close in on No. 2 seed with win over Cavs

CLEVELAND — In early March, Quicken Loans Arena was the scene of a great Knicks comeback and Carmelo Anthony’s lowest moment of the season.

This is where Anthony tripped, fell and stormed off the court with a puffy knee with the Knicks trailing by 22 points. The Knicks rallied and won without him.

Friday night, the Knicks and Anthony could rejoice in perfect harmony after a 101-91 victory. Anthony lit up the Cavaliers for 31 points and 14 rebounds and sidekick J.R. Smith matched him with 31 as the Knicks won their 14th game in 15 outings to move on the verge of sealing the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Anthony was able to savor it, sitting out the fourth quarter of the rout.

“It was kind of embarrassing moment at that point of time, knowing I couldn’t really do nothing and the way I had to walk off the court in that game and then in the Denver game,’’ Anthony said. “They were the two lowest moments of the season.’’

It seems like a long time ago. With the Pacers’ home loss Friday night to the Nets, the Knicks’ magic number to lock up the second seed is 1.

The Knicks can do it tomorrow with a victory against the Pacers at the Garden. That would render their final two games — in Charlotte and home against Atlanta — meaningless, and Anthony said he could shut it down and rest for Game 1 of the playoffs next week.

“I’ll take that into consideration,’’ Anthony said. “I’ll see what happens after [tomorrow’s] game about me shutting down and getting some rest.”

Not falling to the No. 3 seed has become even more vital, considering that could bring a first-round matchup against the Bulls, who swept their season series, 4-0. The No. 2 seed likely will draw the Celtics, whom the Knicks beat three of four times.

The second seed also assures home-court advantage until the Eastern Conference Finals. A second-round matchup with the Pacers could turn on the Knicks having the extra home game.

“It’s very important,’’ Knicks coach Mike Woodson said of the No. 2 seed. “When you get in the playoffs, we’ve proven we can win on the road. But it always helps to have home-court advantage. We’ll have it in the first round, and if we’re able to secure [victory], we’ll have it in the second round and that goes a long way when you’re trying to go to the Eastern Conference Finals.”

The 1-2 scoring punch of Anthony and Smith that will make the Knicks a tough out in the playoffs was at it again, combining for 62 points. Smith shot an outstanding 13 of 16, making 12 straight baskets after a 1-for-4 start, to bolster his case for the Sixth Man of the Year Award.

“I just got into a little rhythm,” Smith said. “We wanted to get the game out of the way so we can get some rest.”

Coming off their 13-game winning streak being busted Thursday by the Bulls, the Knicks dominated from start to finish.

It was Anthony’s seventh straight game of 30-plus points, closing in on Amar’e Stoudemire’s franchise record of nine straight. Anthony’s team-record string of six straight 35-point games was snapped.

“That’s on the radar,” Melo said of tomorrow’s meeting with the Pacers. “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. We knew it would probably come down to this. We definitely want to win this basketball game.”

marc.berman@nypost.com