CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One point.
That’s what Carmelo Anthony scored last night in a stunning — and perhaps telling — result. With Anthony muted, the Knicks bombed the Bobcats, 111-78, last night at Time Warner Cable Arena to break their six-game losing streak.
Anthony’s one point was a career low, and it was the first time he failed to sink a field goal since Nov. 28, 2005.
“I needed a night like this, where I didn’t have to do too much and we still won the game by a lot,’’ Anthony said. “We just had it going. Everybody had it going. I needed a night like this when I score one point and we win by 20. We all got tired of losing.’’
PHOTOS: KNICKS POUNCE ON BOBCATS
Anthony, who has been in a massive shooting slump and vowed to pass the ball more, did just that. But he went 0-for-7 as injuries continue to affect his shot. His lone point came on a free throw off a technical foul in the third quarter after going scoreless as the Knicks built a 52-42 halftime lead.
With Anthony nonexistent offensively, slumping Amar’e Stoudemire and center Tyson Chandler each played their best game in two weeks with rip-roaring performances.
Chandler owned the offensive glass and punished Charlotte for 20 points and 17 rebounds (nine offensive). Meanwhile, Stoudemire sank mid-range jumpers and tore to the hole for thunderous dunks in notching 18 points (7-of-12 shooting) and eight rebounds.
Anthony, who chipped in 11 rebounds and four assists, was outscored by all 12 of his mates, including Renaldo Balkman, Jeremy Lin and rookie Jerome Jordan.
After Saturday’s sixth straight loss to the Nuggets in which he was booed, a reflective Anthony said he may need to take fewer shots and get the ball more to Stoudemire.
“I just wanted everybody to get back their confidence,’’ said Anthony, who now is shooting a dismal 39.6 percent. “I told you the other day I was going to do a good job getting guys more involved. I did that tonight.’’
That’s the good news. The lousy news is the injuries are taking their toll, and Anthony added a new one last night. Anthony said he may have sprained his right thumb in a collision with a Bobcats player as he moved to get free.
“The wrist is messed up, the ankle is sore, the thumb is sore,’’ Anthony said. “My mind is good, and that’s the most important thing. I didn’t have to do too much tonight. It was everyone else’s night.’’
There will be a debate on whether Anthony taking a back seat is a good thing for the long run or if last night was an aberration because the Knicks played the pitiful, beat-up Bobcats (3-15), who shot 32.9 percent and were without starting point guard D.J. Augustin and Corey Maggette.
Maybe this is how it should be until Anthony gets 100 percent. The Knicks, who play in Cleveland tonight, played selfless ball with Melo in the background.
“That’s just the smart way to play the game, moving the ball,’’ Stoudemire said.
Stoudemire and Anthony had a big talk about how to coexist better. And for one night, it was good — at least for Stoudemire and Chandler.
“Just the way we approached the game with our energy — we felt good in the locker room,’’ Chandler said. “We had great ball movement and pep in our step. That’s the way we have to play. A lot of offensive rebounds came because we attacked the rim. We had great penetration off the pick and rolls, [and] I got an easy lane to the basket.’’
Chandler said Anthony’s presence still helps.
“Even if he doesn’t take a shot the entire game, the other team has to respect him,’’ Chandler said. “They’re never going to leave him.’’
Coach Mike D’Antoni said Stoudemire’s and Chandler’s breakouts were not by design.
“The philosophy should be if the ball flows, some nights it will find Tyson, some nights Melo, some nights Amar’e,’’ D’Antoni said.
This was their third meeting already with Charlotte, with the Knicks winning the last two. Bobcats owner Michael Jordan left his seat at halftime and did not return, perhaps lamenting the resolved lockout.