SYRACUSE — Carmelo Anthony visited his Orange past last night and may have played the position of his Knicks future.
With Amar’e Stoudemire out two to three weeks with knee woes, coach Mike Woodson changed his mind on Kurt Thomas and started Anthony at power forward against the small 76ers lineup at the Carrier Dome.
Decked appropriately in an orange headband and long orange arm sleeves, Melo got a standing ovation during introductions, played a vibrant first quarter, then did something he never did at home during his glorious season at Syracuse — he lost.
Anthony finished with 23 points, six assists and five rebounds, but failed to play the homecoming hero and shot miserably in the fourth quarter. He finished 7 of 23, including 2 of 8 from 3-point land.
The Sixers feasted on a soft defense in a 62-point first half and beat the Knicks 98-90 before 8,831 fans and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, their third straight loss on this preseason road trip.
“It’s over with now, my streak is over,’’ said Anthony, who was 17-0 at the Carrier Dome.
The orange-clad fans cheered his every move and gave him one last big ovation as he departed for good with 1:04 left. His final play was an eyesore, dribbling into a triple-team and getting stripped on a post-up.
Last night’s small starting lineup could be their post-Stoudemire blueprint, with Raymond Felton at point guard, Jason Kidd at shooting guard, Ronnie Brewer making his debut at small forward and Anthony and Tyson Chandler up front.
As Boeheim left the dome, he said Knicks fans should anticipate one of Anthony’s best seasons.
Boeheim attended the Knicks’ shootaround and assured Woodson that Anthony can play the 4 in Stoudemire’s absence. The latest injury in Stoudemire’s left knee, a ruptured cyst, calls into question whether Stoudemire ever is going to remain healthy.
“He’s good at that position and will create mismatches,’’ Boeheim told The Post. “I talked to Mike about it at the [shootaround]. He’s going to have some advantages. I think he’s going to have a good year and do everything he needs to do for them to win. This is his peak years. But as I’ve told you before, he’s a scorer. That’s what he is.’’
Both Sixers coach Doug Collins and Woodson used the word “nightmare’’ talking about Anthony as a matchup at the position.
“It’s kind of a nightmare for a lot of 4s in this league,’’ Woodson said.
But he maintained he won’t start Anthony at the 4 against a big team such as the Nets, whom they play tomorrow in their preseason finale and open against in Brooklyn on Nov. 1. Kris Humphries might be too much for Anthony to handle.
“It takes too much out of him,’’ Woodson said
But Collins, who had Thaddeus Young at the 4, said Anthony is a handful.
“He’s a nightmare matchup,’’ Collins said. “If he plays the 3, he’s going to overpower the 3 with his physical strength. If he plays 4, he’ll be the guy with quickness. Carmelo is a nightmare whichever spot he plays.’’
Anthony banged in a left-wing jumper on the opening possession and barreled to the hole for a another bucket and foul late in the first.
“He drew up the first play, Mike told me he was going to give me the first shot,’’ Anthony said.
Anthony was replaced after 10 minutes and got another big ovation after racking up eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Anthony got into foul trouble in the second when the Sixers gained command, taking a 22-point lead before Anthony led a third-quarter charge.
“My juices got flowing,’’ Anthony said. “My competitiveness came out.’’
Sunday was a more successful day as Anthony visited the “Carmelo K. Anthony Center,’’ the practice facility for the Syracuse men’s and women’s teams. Anthony donated $3 million in 2009 to help build the $19 million facility.
“It was the first time I walked through the whole facility and watched the team practice,’’ Anthony said. “I got a workout there. It was kind of surreal walking around seeing my name plastered around the building. It was shocking to me. I called my family, sent them pictures. It was one of those moments I will never forget.’’
Of course, that will be topped if he can do in New York what he did in his lone season at Syracuse in 2002-03.
“It’s motivating knowing what I did here, bringing a championship to the university and trying to do that in New York City,’’ Anthony said.
Anthony and Boeheim, an assistant coach for Team USA, were last seen together winning Olympic gold in London.
“It seems when I’m with him we win,’’ Anthony said. “Championships here, two gold medals. He’s still yelling and screaming. He’s Boeheim.’’