NBA

Carmelo, Knicks say Garnett dustup in the past

UNFAIR FANFARE? Carmelo Anthony (7) can expect to hear it from Boston fans (inset) when the Knicks visit Boston tonight to meet Kevin Garnett (9) and the Celtics for the first time since their heated encounter at the Garden on Jan. 7. (Getty Images)

Carmelo Anthony can expect to hear it from Boston fans tonight. (EPA)

BOSTON — Will Kevin Garnett cross the La La line again tonight?

A Knicks-Celtics matchup usually is a nasty affair, and it never will taste as bitter as tonight’s meeting. Carmelo Anthony invades the TD Garden for Round 2 against Garnett, the Celtics and 18,624 rowdy Boston fans.

Anthony says he is ready for “the hostile environment” as the Knicks officially hit their season’s midpoint.

“That’s the least of my concerns,” Anthony said after yesterday’s practice. “The Boston arena is always hostile. I don’t expect anything different [tonight]. … It’s a big game. It’s a divisional game.”

There may be a cheerio chant or two as the blood rivals meet for the first time since Melo and KG trash-talked their way into trouble in the fourth quarter Jan. 7 at the Garden. After the game, Anthony tried to settle the score in the tunnel and by the Celtics team bus.

According to a report, Garnett told Anthony his wife La La tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios — a remark Celtics coach Doc Rivers swears is false.

Anthony claimed of Garnett’s remark, “There’s certain things you just don’t say to men, another man.” Anthony conceded yesterday it is possible his 15-day fast contributed to his uncharacteristic demeanor.

“It could have,” Anthony said. “But it’s no excuse. During that time, I was de-energized. I wouldn’t use that as an excuse at this point.”

He revealed 10 days ago he was just finishing up a yearly fast in which he eats no carbs, meats or soda.

Anthony says a telephone conversation the day after cleared the air.

“I don’t have no bad blood, no grudges,” he said.

Anthony shot 6-of-26 that night as the Celtics won, 102-96, without Rajon Rondo. Worse, Anthony got suspended for one game and served it in Indiana, where the Knicks scored a season low in an 81-76 defeat. The Post has learned Anthony has appealed the suspension to recoup $176,000 in lost wages.

“I can’t live off regret,” he said. “What happened, happened. [There’s] nothing we can do about it at this point.”

Celtics fans could be in a surly mood, too, because their club has lost four straight, fallen one game below .500 and six behind the Knicks in the Atlantic Division. Boston has lost to also-rans New Orleans, Detroit and Cleveland.

The Knicks (25-14) are coming off a disappointing loss to Brooklyn that furthered Anthony’s shooting woes dating back to the last Celtics encounter, a span of five games (48-of-131, 36.6 percent). His increased responsibilities as ballhandler because of starting point guard Raymond Felton’s absence appear to have messed with his shooting rhythm. But Anthony said yesterday, “I’m not worried about my shot.”

Ironically, Anthony and Garnett will be Eastern teammates on the All-Star team next month in Houston, and Anthony saluted Garnett for getting the nod.

“That’s just another honor for him at this stage of his career,” Anthony said. “That says a lot about him.”

Knicks coach Mike Woodson said he’s not worried Anthony will be adversely affected by the crowd.

“It’s going to be a hostile environment,” Woodson said. “That’s how it should be. They’ve been in situations like this through their career where maybe there’s a confrontation in the previous game and the media hyped it up. It happens. Regardless of what happened a month ago, which I think is forgotten in everyone’s mind, we’ve got to go in there and try to get a win.

“We let a game get away here (Jan. 7),” Woodson added.

“Now we’ve got to go and see what we’re made of.”

This Boston-Philadelphia trip could be a turning point as the Knicks get Felton back Saturday, and they are 8-9 since Rasheed Wallace went down in mid-December.

“Right now we’re feeling in a great spot,” Anthony said. “I don’t want to put that pressure on us. But to undervalue the next two games is the wrong thing to do. They are big-time games. These should be fun rather than putting pressure on ourselves. It’s going into the middle of the season but these are the fun times, playing against your division. We accept that challenge.”

marc.berman@nypost.com