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LOS ANGELES — The Lakers stole the fourth quarter and Carmelo Anthony’s late mojo, and Mike D’Antoni became The Grinch who stole Christmas from the Knicks.
In a dramatic duel with Anthony at the electric Staples Center, Kobe Bryant played more desperate down the stretch and guided the Lakers to a 100-94 victory as D’Antoni’s star-studded Lake Show showed how dangerous it can be.
It was a spectacular game as Bryant and Anthony each finished with 34 points, but Bryant’s supporting cast was much better down the stretch.
“It was fun [going against Kobe], but he got the last laugh with the win,’’ Anthony said.
Anthony became tentative in the fourth, one game after dropping 19 fourth-quarter points on Minnesota. But on the grand holiday stage, Anthony scored just seven points in the final period, took just three shots, hardly touched the ball late and was scoreless in the final 1:58. As a result, the Knicks — dressed in garish orange uniforms — posted a 16-point fourth quarter.
Raymond Felton, who sprained his pinkie finger, had a poor outing (5-of-19 from the field) and didn’t look for Anthony enough. It was up to a hot J.R. Smith to take the pivotal shot with the Knicks (20-8) trailing by three points with 30 seconds left. He rimmed out a questionable 3-pointer from the left wing and finished with 25 points but short of being a hero.
“Melo gets a lot of attention,’’ Jason Kidd said. “We have to make shots. We didn’t make shots down at the end and they did. Melo had a great game.’’
Steve Nash, who didn’t play in the initial encounter between the two teams 12 days ago, sparked the Lakers with 16 points and 11 assists, including a key fall-away in the lane with 1:47 left to put the Lakers up 96-91.
Queenbridge’s Metta World Peace stuck it to his childhood team with 20 points and dogged defense on Anthony, who finished 13-of-23 from the field. He called his defense on Anthony “old-school basketball.’’
In a signature moment midway through the fourth, World Peace hounded Anthony at the perimeter. Anthony appeared flustered and threw a hurried half-court pass out of bounds.
On his lack of touches late, Anthony said, “I’m not too concerned about that. It was an up-and-down game, missing shots we normally make. For me getting the ball, it’s neither here nor there.’’
The Lakers (14-14) moved to .500 after winning their fifth straight since the Garden loss. It was redemption for D’Antoni, the former Knicks coach, whose team was routed at the Garden. But the Lakers yesterday were fully loaded and healthy.
“What jumps out is the 16 points they scored in the fourth quarter,’’ D’Antoni said. “We turned up the defense and it worked out.’’
Tyson Chandler fouled out with 2:22 remaining, finishing a lousy game with just six points and nine rebounds, missing shots around the rim. He was outplayed late by Dwight Howard (14 points, 12 boards).
Woodson chose center Marcus Camby — playing his first game in a month — over Kurt Thomas to replace Chandler. Camby promptly threw away an entry pass with 1:12 left. With Chandler missing, Pau Gasol scored the game-sealer on a defensive breakdown with Kidd and Anthony out of position. Gasol charged down a vacant paint and threw down an uncontested two-handed dunk with 12 seconds left for a 99-94 lead. Camby was late sliding over.
“It was definitely tough,’’ Chandler said about fouling out. “Our team depends on me down the stretch defensively and offensively making plays around the rim. Tonight, I didn’t have it going.’’
Asked about Anthony’s lack of touches in the fourth, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said, “He’s been consistent for us all season. We just didn’t get it from our other guys tonight in terms of making plays down the stretch. I got to do a better job of getting him the ball.’’
Anthony appeared to have a slight limp in the locker room after the game. Camby fell on his leg in the first half and Anthony hopped around in agony for several moments. He said he believes he hyperextended his knee.
“It’s a little sore right now, banged up, but I’ll be fine for [tonight in Phoenix],’’ Anthony said.
Smith, who took over the offense, drew the Knicks within two points on a 3-pointer with 1:01 left. But in the key moment, the ball went to Smith again — not Anthony — with 30 seconds left and the Knicks down three.
Woodson, who rarely criticizes players, said, “He had a good look but my thing was if he didn’t have a good look, put it down and get to the rack.’’
“I got a good look at it,” Smith said. “I just got to make those shots. It rimmed in and out.’’
The Knicks had led by nine in the third quarter after an Anthony explosion. Anthony scored 10 points in the first 3:50 of the second half, and had 27 points after three quarters. But Kobe had the last word on Christmas.
marc.berman@nypost.com