Carmelo Anthony returned from a sprained ankle to score 33 points, but the New York Knicks fell to the hot-shooting Orlando Magic 102-93 on Monday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Ryan Anderson scored a career-high 30 points for Orlando and J.J. Redick, making a rare start, scored 21. The duo combined for 10 of the Magic's 17 3-pointers (Anderson had seven).
The Magic shot 50.7 percent compared to the Knicks' 41.1 percent, but New York still led by two entering the fourth quarter thanks to their ability to draw fouls (the Knicks finished 28-33 from the free throw line, including 14-16 by Anthony). Orlando outscored New York 29-18 in the final frame.
The game's two star big men both served up duds. Amare Stoudemire battled foul trouble all afternoon and managed just 10 points and two rebounds, and Dwight Howard fouled out in the final minute with just eight points and 10 boards.
The Knicks' Iman Shumpert, who started at point guard, was active on his way to 12 points, three steals, two assists and two rebounds, and Tyson Chandler was crucial in slowing down Howard.
Anthony appeared to tweak his ankle late in the fourth quarter but did not leave the game.
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