The Brooklyn commute to Manhattan can often be a bear, and tonight it became that way for the struggling Nets.
In the Nets’ first foray to the Garden with “Brooklyn’’ written across their chests, the Knicks got back their main man Carmelo Anthony and got back to their winning ways at the Garden.
Two days after Linsanity ruled the Garden when the Rockets handed the Knicks their first home loss, Anthony racked up 31 points and the Knicks rallied in the third quarter to post a 100-86 victory over the Nets. It was the third time in 23 days the teams have met, and the Knicks have the 2-1 edge.
Anthony, who sat out the previous two games with a sprained left ankle, made his decision to aid the depleted club an hour before tip-off and shot 12-of-22 — 4-of-8 on 3-pointers. Anthony did not look hindered by the injury, nor did he show any rust.
His 3-pointer with 5:40 left in transition put the Knicks up 89-76 and served as the dagger. He heard the loudest “M-V-P” chants of the season as he shot free throws with 3:00 left.
But Anthony had plenty of help. Tyson Chandler nearly tore down a Garden rim last night in a dunkathon, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and J.R. Smith had 19 points off the bench. Even rising rookie Chris Copeland came off the bench in Steve Novak’s flu-ridden absence for a much-needed eight points (3-of-4).
The loss extended the Nets’ losing streak to three games and put them on a 2-8 skid in their past 10. The Knicks (19-6) lead the Nets (13-12) in the Atlantic Division by a fat six games. Nets point guard Deron Williams had a solid outing (16 points, 10 assists), but he didn’t have enough help. Joe Johnson bricked the night away at 5-of-14 and Kris Humphries scored as many points as Kim Kardashian — zero.
The Knicks won big despite point guard Raymond Felton still not showing his best vs. Brooklyn. He was 6-of-31 with 12 turnovers in his first two games vs. the Nets. Last night he shot just 4-of-15. But he had four assists — all nice lobs to Chandler — and did not commit a turnover.
Williams nailed a pull-up 3 in transition that put the Nets up 61-57, with 6:42 left in the third, forcing Knicks coach Mike Woodson to call timeout.
The Knicks roared back and outscored the Nets 18-6 the rest of the third quarter and took a 75-67 lead into the fourth.
Copeland, who had started for Anthony, hit two big 3-pointers from the left wing during the surge, making up for Novak’s absence with the flu. It was the first game Novak has missed since joining the Knicks last season.
Chandler and Felton kept connecting on alley-oop lobs for dunks. Chandler, who scored a career-high 27 points vs. the Nets in the initial meeting, racked up 14 points by the end of the third quarter. The Knicks, so sloppy vs. Houston, had just four turnovers after three periods.
Rasheed Wallace also missed another game with a sore left foot, leaving the Knicks depleted in the big-man department. Marcus Camby, Wallace, Novak and Amar’e Stoudemire all were out.
Anthony looked limber. He missed his first shot but got rolling thereafter. Anthony got out on the fastbreak, taking an outlet feed from Chandler for a transition layup.
Chandler also got Anthony another 3-pointer, batting out a rebound into his hands in the second quarter as the Knicks rallied from a four-point deficit and took a 52-48 lead at intermission.
The game was not without its testy moments. After Chandler blocked Humphries at the rim, Humphries wrestled Smith out of bounds in a loose-ball scramble and drew a technical foul. Instead of going back at Humphries, Smith just clapped at drawing the technical.
Anthony scored 17 points by halftime, making seven of 14 baskets, not looking hindered at all by his sprained left ankle. Anthony, averaging 27.9 points, didn’t commit to playing until one hour before tip-off and may have been motivated by Novak being unable to play because of the flu. Anthony almost had no choice to suit up even if he didn’t feel 100 percent.
marc.berman@nypost.com