CLEVELAND — The Knicks have found a starting lineup, found a way not to panic in the fourth quarter and have found their way back to the periphery of a playoff race.
Carmelo Anthony thrived in the new Big 3 alignment with Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler.
Anthony shook off a bad first quarter and a bad cold to post 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the Knicks topped the Cavaliers, 107-97 at Quicken Loans Arena for their third straight win.
Amar’e Stoudemire scored 17 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks as the new starting power forward, while Chandler notched 15 points and 11 rebounds. The expensive trio combined for six blocks.
Yeah, it’s working and, after the Hawks’ 109-108 loss to the Clippers later Saturday, the Knicks moved within 3 ½ games of eighth-seeded Atlanta. They moved into a 10th-place tie with Cleveland at 24-40.
“It’s been a tough year for us to figure out the chemistry on both ends, but better late than never,’’ Stoudemire said. .
The Knicks blew a 15-point lead in the second quarter, trailed by 3 early in the fourth before stabilizing themselves. They came two points short of all five starters reaching double figures again.
J.R. Smith, the new starting shooting guard, added 17 points and point guard Raymond Felton, out of his rut, ran the show with gusto and posted eight points with six assists and five boards. Meanwhile, coach Mike Woodson saved his great praise for the defensive performance new sixth man Iman Shumpert put on in the second half, feeling he “impacted the game like you wouldn’t believe.’’
“I see something different the last few games,’’ Anthony said. “Guys mindsets, individually, all coming together. Everybody has a sense of urgency. We’re playing very desperate.’’
The icing on the cake occurred with 2:30 left when Felton fired a bullet underneath for Chandler for an easy lay-in. The Knicks’ resurgent point guard then scored on a floater to clinch it at 101-90 with two minutes left.
The highlight play of the night came in the second quarter and put the Knicks up 15. Felton grabbed the rebound and whipped an outlet pass for Smith, igniting a fastbreak. Smith raced to the basket and knocked the ball off the backboard perfectly for Stoudemire, who caught it and laid it in, jacking the lead to 15 points. Nevertheless, Woodson laid a death glare at Smith for the circus play.
“That was one of those exciting plays,’’ Stoudemire said. “If we didn’t execute it, he would’ve said something, but we scored, so he didn’t say much.’’
Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers superstar point guard, scored 30 points with eight assists, but needed 25 shots and the Knicks defense bottled up his mates.
“Our backs are against the wall, so there’s no room for error,’’ Woodson said. “That’s how we approached the game. We’re still trying to play for something — that eighth spot — and they’re playing like it.’’
Woodson said he is ready to roll with this new alignment.
“It’s working well,’’ said Stoudemire, who made his third straight start and fourth in five games. “Obviously it was a big decision for Coach Woodson to change things, and it’s so far so good.’’
After a 1 of 7 start in the first quarter, Anthony got into high gear and scored 12 points in the second as the Knicks led by as many as 15 points. The Knicks faltered in the third quarter after the nearly 40-minute halftime due to Zydrunas Ilgauskas jersey retirement ceremony attended by Akron’s LeBron James.
Anthony said he liked the long break, saying it’s “been hard to breathe’’ because of the congestion.
“It was good for me,’’ he said. “I got some rest at halftime, lay down, stretched out on the floor and let Z do his thing. I appreciated it.’’