NBA

Stoudemire returns to Knicks lineup but unable to click with Anthony

MONTREAL — Even in French-speaking Quebec, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony didn’t speak the same language.

Their statistical numbers were good enough, but they each looked best when the other was on the bench. Paired together down the stretch in an attempt to make a rally, Anthony and Stoudemire were overrun by the Raptors, who pulled away for an easy 107-88 victory before 22,114 at Montreal’s Bell Centre Friday night in Stoudemire’s preseason debut.

The Knicks (2-1) no longer are the NBA’s lone unbeaten team in exhibitions, and coach Mike Woodson was ticked at blowing a 17-point second-quarter lead to a club that may be improved but still projects as a last-place team in the Atlantic Division.

It was another loss for the Stoudemire-Anthony tandem. Stoudemire, after sitting out the two preseason wins with a bruised left knee, notched 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting but didn’t look particularly smooth when he tried his newly learned post moves. He also got to the line for just two free throws — a stat Woodson hoped would increase with more Stoudemire post-ups.

Anthony, who was torrid in the two games Stoudemire missed, did not shoot well from the perimeter — 8-of-20 from the field and 0-of-7 from the 3-point stripe —and finished with 24 points.

Anthony was 1-of-6 in the fourth quarter. Stoudemire got hot early in the fourth via pick-and-rolls with Pablo Prigioni but lost his rhythm when Anthony entered with 7:25 left. Stoudemire also failed to grab two key defensive rebounds down the stretch, getting boxed out by highly touted Toronto rookie Jonas Valanciunas. The latter led to a key 3-pointer by Andrea Bargnani (20 points). Stoudemire finished with just five boards in 26:30.

“I thought they were more aggressive than we were,’’ Woodson said. “I thought we played one good quarter. I didn’t like anything about the second, third and fourth quarter. Amar’e played pretty good. He got up and down the floor. But as a unit defensively we weren’t there today. You’re going to miss shots, but your defense has to be a constant and we weren’t there.’’

Stoudemire and Anthony seemed nonplussed by the loss. Stoudemire likely will sit out Saturday night’s game in Albany against the Celtics as a precaution. Woodson said he does not want Stoudemire to play three games in four nights on his knee.

“It felt great to get in the swing of things,’’ Stoudemire said. “I felt in better shape than I thought was. My wind was great. Unfortunately we couldn’t get a win. They made all kind of shots. They made every shot you can possibly make.’’

Stoudemire, who was a minus-15, scored on a handful of powerful dunks that were set up beautifully, including a great feed by Raymond Felton after he drove the lane. Stoudemire made his mid-range jumpers, but his post game was nothing special. He got blocked twice in the post and committed a 24-second violation on another post-up.

“He hadn’t played and he got up and down,’’ Woodson said. “His timing was a little off. I got to get him and the four other guys working together from the defensive standpoint. That’s something we have to do in the next two weeks.’’

Anthony did not make a big deal over his chemistry with Stoudemire.

“I try to play off him,’’ Anthony said. “Right now we’re not concerned about that. Amar’e’s still trying to get his legs under him and figuring everything out.”

Anthony wasn’t nearly as fluid as in the first two games. Ex-Knick Landry fields guarded him early and got him out of his comfort zone with his extra energy on defense. Fields clearly defended Anthony with a purpose. Anthony and Fields never clicked as teammates.

“He was himself,’’ Anthony said of Fields. “He played defense. He did what he was supposed to do. I don’t know what that is. He did what he supposed to do. I’m sure he played with extra fire.’’

It is not inconceivable as the season goes on Stoudemire and Anthony might be split with Stoudemire coming off the bench.

“We lost our direction in the schemes,’’ Anthony said. “For most of part it’s a learning curve for us. We still got work to do.’’