NBA

Lee sparks Nets in return

Courtney Lee wanted to play Friday. He said he could. He said he was ready. But he sat for a third straight game because of his sprained left ankle.

So naturally, the question was put to Lee before last night’s game. You playing?

“Look at the board. Who’s guarding Tracy?” Lee asked, nodding toward the greaseboard in the Nets locker room where “CL” was assigned to Tracy McGrady.

And no, Lee didn’t just pencil himself in: “My hand writing’s not that good.”

Neither was the Knicks’ defense on him. Lee was a huge difference maker, scoring 25 points — while backcourtmate Devin Harris added a season-high 31. And Lee drilled five of the Nets’ season-high 14 3-pointers that transformed a 16-point first quarter deficit into a 113-93 rout of the Knicks before a disgusted soldout Garden gathering.

For Lee, it was his third straight game in the 20’s. He had a career high-tying 28 against Portland and had 21 against the Celtics when he sprained his ankle. He returned last night.

“Courtney makes a little difference, doesn’t he?” said interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe, who continued the understatement when he noted, “the backcourt picked up where they left off with Courtney and Devin. They’re tough to play.”

No argument from the Knicks. And last night in the Nets’ most lop-sided victory of the season — and second against the Knicks, who will be seeking counseling any moment now – virtually all the Nets were tough to play.

“We were running pick and roll, Brook [Lopez] was drawing the defense, Devin and Terrence [Williams] were able to penetrate and draw the defense and they were able to kick it out to the open man,” explained Lee. “And all the guys were able to step out and knock down shots.”

Again FOURTEEN from three. Their previous high was nine. A healthy Lee does make a difference.

“Huge,” Harris said. ” We were able to create some mismatches with him and he looked good. He’s playing at a high level. Hopefully we can continue to get that type of Courtney Lee effort.”

Lee admitted there was some tenderness early but he quickly overcame it. The same way the Nets overcame the Knicks’ 28-12 lead.

“They did a good job of coming out at home and attacking,” said Lee. “They hit us with the first punch but we showed poise and character to stay within ourselves and to continue to focus on defense. On offense we were making good plays.”

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The injuries just keep coming for the Nets. They welcomed Lee back after he missed three games and then saw Yi Jianlian crumple to the floor, also suffering a sprained left ankle, after stepping on Wilson Chandler. He was helped off the floor with 2:56 left in the first quarter and is out indefinitely. “It’s not too bad. I don’t know how many days,” he said.

fred.kerber@nypost.com