NBA

Knicks fans in 7 heaven

There wasn’t a Carmelo Anthony Knicks jersey to be found. At least not at one souvenir stand outside Madison Square Garden.

Nearly three hours before last night’s game, they already had sold out.

“They said they were out of jerseys, so I got a T-shirt instead,” said 24-year-old Ben Nabavian of Forest Hills. “But when I see the jerseys, I’ll have to get one, too. I just couldn’t wait. What are you going to do? It’s Carmelo.”

Anthony didn’t disappoint in his New York debut, scoring 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Knicks’ 114-108 victory over the Bucks last night.

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As tip-off drew near, the crowds increased. Their steps combined to form a contagiously hurried pace. Late was not an option. Early was not early enough.

Even the pregame press conference was required viewing.

“The buzz is crazy. You just feel it on the streets,” said 22-year-old Jonathan Pszeniczny, watching at a nearby bar. “It’s the same buzz going as when [Patrick] Ewing was here. It’s incredible.”

“I’m so excited, I’m going nuts,” Nabavian said. “You can’t tell the Knicks they can’t go to the Finals. With [Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire], you can win on any night.”

Smiles like theirs don’t just happen. Something special requires them. Anthony’s first game as a Knick brought out many fans’ first basketball-induced euphoria in years.

Bar signs welcomed Anthony to New York. Strangers high-fived in the street. People were united by the one team that unifies New York. Missing the playoffs the past six years, the Knicks are tied for the longest drought in the league. Last night clearly showed that the apathy created from that miserable stretch officially is dead.

“You just lost the love for the players that were here,” said Brian Wrinkle, 30, of Patchogue, who was attending his first Knicks game in nearly 12 years. “They fell apart. I hate Isiah Thomas and what he did to the team. Well, I like him now if he had anything to do with this.”

His older brother Billy said, “This is like back when they were in the playoffs. This is like a playoff game. It’s the peak of the season. We could’ve sold our tickets for Super Bowl prices, but when is this going to happen again?”

Many in attendance who had tickets before Anthony was a Knick were rewarded with “dumb luck,” as they explained. For the first time since Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee was the hottest ticket in town.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” said Mike Russo of Rockaway, N.J. “That’s why I haven’t sold my tickets. The whole train ride here, I was getting offers.”

According to tiqiq.com, last night’s ticket price average originally was $222, but shot up to $429, an increase of 92 percent, after the trade was announced. Before one shot was taken, most felt a rush that couldn’t be bought.

As Anthony jogged out from the tunnel, last in line, everyone in the sold out crowd rose to cheer and take photos, to capture a moment they never would have forgotten anyway.

Within 30 seconds of the game’s start, “Melo” chants rang loud enough to be heard in his native Brooklyn.

Minutes later, Anthony collected an offensive rebound and made a layup for his first basket, with the Garden erupting as if the shot had won the game. Having No. 7, victory already was achieved.

“We just crossed our fingers, hoping it would happen,” Russo said. “We gave up a lot, but I think it’ll help us a lot in the long run. He puts us on another level.”

howard.kussoy@nypost.com