J.R. Smith sensed a different vibe from Carmelo Anthony yesterday morning, hours before the Knicks would dominate the Celtics 118-110 last night at Madison Square Garden.
“Before the game you could tell by his demeanor,’’ said Smith, who knows Anthony about as well as anyone on the Knicks, having played with him in Denver. “Melo is more of a jokester. He likes to play around, talk and joke. But today he was more serious. You could tell by the way he acted. We lost to Miami and he definitely didn’t want us to lose to Boston — especially at home.’’
You got the distinct feeling all night Anthony was not going to let the Knicks lose this game, and he didn’t.
Anthony, who has been on a Bernard King-like scoring bender for the last dozen games, averaging more than 30 points in Amar’e Stoudemire’s absence, delivered his first triple-double as a Knick and second of his career with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
“He has to be one of the hottest players in basketball, if not the hottest player,’’ Tyson Chandler said.
“I think Melo is settling in; he’s playing like we all thought he would play and it’s beautiful to watch,’’ Knicks coach Mike Woodson said.
“With the guys being hurt, with Amar’e and [Jeremy] Lin being out and having to step up in every aspect of the game — passing, scoring, rebounding, doing it all — my teammates are expecting that out of me,’’ Anthony said.
Woodson said Anthony “has responded in a tremendous way’’ with Stoudemire out of the lineup.
“Not only is he playing good offensive basketball, but he’s making his teammates better,” Woodson said, “and that’s what great players do.’’
Unlike Sunday’s loss to the Heat, when Anthony’s 42 points provided nearly half the Knicks’ total output (85 points), he didn’t spend the game by himself on an island on the offensive end of the court. Smith, Steve Novak and Chandler combined for 70 points.
Make no mistake, though: When the Knicks needed a boost or a basket when the game tightened — after being lopsided in the first half — it was always Anthony who bailed them out.
With Stoudemire due back as early as Friday, the Knicks are salivating at the prospect of having their two stars on the court together for a playoff run.
“We just want him healthy,’’ Anthony said of Stoudemire’s impending return. “I don’t think there will be anything about a transition or any adjustments. I am pretty sure he’ll fit right in. We will need him down the stretch — especially going into the playoffs.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com