MIAMI — On this night, LeBron James couldn’t touch Carmelo Anthony — and Melo should thank Miami president Pat Riley for it.
With James and Dwyane Wade sitting out Tuesday night’s showdown with “minor’’ ailments, Anthony put on a South Beach show with 50 points in 40 minutes.
Anthony carried the Knicks to a 102-90 victory at AmericanAirlines Arena for their ninth straight victory — their longest winning streak since 1993-94.
Anthony had 42 points after three quarters but needed a 19-footer with 16.9 seconds to reach the magical 50 that tied his career high. James had a great view from the bench — as Anthony sank 18 of 26 baskets, made 7 of 10 3-pointers and 7 of 8 free throws.
How’d it look, LeBron?
“He was unbelievable,’’ coach Mike Woodson said. “He refused to let us lose tonight. He wasn’t forcing anything. Some things come easy for a great player and tonight he did everything he was supposed to do to put us in position to win.’’
It had a perfect ending, too. With a close game finally in hand, Anthony didn’t want the ball on the final possession, content with 48 and a victory. But his teammates wanted to make sure he got 50 on Miami.
“I knew I was close, but they were telling me to come out and get the ball,’’ Anthony said. “I was just trying to get the game over with. Ray [Felton] yelled at me and Tyson yelled at me, so I came out and got it.’’
And hit it again, another swish. It was a night of swishes for Anthony, who seemed to be destined to do something special after Riley decided to rest their top two starters and point guard Mario Chalmers.
Anthony said the basket felt as wide as the ocean — Miami Beach’s turquoise waters surely.
“I felt it at the start of the game,’’ Anthony said. “It’s just a feeling you have when you’re out on the court. Sometimes you get off to a good start and then you get cold later in the game, but tonight it wasn’t one of those cases.’’
Anthony became the first Knick to reach 50 against Miami since Jamal Crawford’s 52 against the Heat in 2007. Anthony’s career high was 50, set twice, including once against the Knicks three years ago when he played for Denver.
The Knicks took the season series against the Heat, 3-1, though many observers will say it contains an asterisk because of the Heat’s decision to sit James, Wade and Chalmers. James is nursing a strained hamstring and Wade a sprained ankle, injuries Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called “minor.’’
At halftime, while the Knicks were taking warm-up shots, Anthony and James chatted. James came over to the Knicks bench in his gray suit and white sneakers to schmooze. If it was meant to distract the Knicks, it didn’t work as Anthony hit his first four shots of the second half.
“He’s hurt,’’ Anthony said of his buddy. “I don’t think he sat out for no reason. He told me he was hurt.’’
Anthony said he was going to try to light up South Beach — ploy or no ploy.
“My mindset was the same whether they played or not,’’ Anthony said. “My mindset was come out and attack early in the game, get something going, get off to a good start and try to win a basketball game.’’
After starting the game 7 of 7, after notching 27 by halftime and pumping in 42 through three quarters, Anthony didn’t take a shot through the first eight minutes of the fourth. He then hit a 16-footer over Shane Battier and swished a 3-pointer from the right corner to pump the lead to 95-88 with 3:32 left to close it out.
Anthony was 14 of 17 and 6 of 8 from 3-point land when he reached the 40-point mark on an 18-footer that put the Knicks up 68-67 midway through the third quarter. He hit a turnaround over Battier to give him 42 on 15-of-19 shooting.
Anthony was torching the Heat’s defensive wizard. His other 50-point game also came against Battier, who finally got physical with Anthony in the fourth quarter.
“He didn’t give me no space,’’ Anthony said. “He [was] on me like white on rice.’’
Center Tyson Chandler (neck injury) made his return from a 10-game absence but was mostly ineffective until the final few minutes when he made a key block on Chris Bosh. He finished with one point, two rebounds in 24 minutes and may sit out tonight’s game in Atlanta.
After Chandler’s block, Smith nailed a game-sealing 3-pointer to put the Knicks up 99-88 with 1:47 left. Smith looked skyward after making the bucket.
Smith finished with 14 points, shooting 5 of 15, but said he was thrilled Anthony carried the day.
“He was efficient, making shots getting to the free-throw line, getting guys involved,’’ Smith said. “That’s the Melo we need in the playoffs. We know people will double and triple him, so we have to trust him he’s going to make the right play.’’
In the final seconds of the third quarter, Anthony drove the lane on Battier and fired a pass to Steve Novak in the right corner, who drained a 3-pointer to put the Knicks up 78-76 after three quarters. Then it was all the Knicks, who wanted Anthony to have the rock at the end.
“Everyone wanted it so bad,’’ Smith said. “We really started pushing him the ball, making sure he got it.’’