Knicks 106, Magic 94: Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points in his return from a knee injury as host New York routed Orlando.

J.R. Smith scored a game-high 22 points and Kenyon Martin and Steve Novak added 11 apiece as the Knicks pulled within one game of second-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Anthony, who had missed the previous three games and six of eight, was 7-of-14 from the field and had eight rebounds in 33 minutes.

Tobias Harris and Andrew Nicholson scored 14 points apiece for the Magic, who went 0-4 against the Knicks this season. Beno Udrih added 13 points and Kyle O’Quinn contributed 12 points and 14 rebounds.

The Knicks made 12-of-19 from the field – including five 3-pointers – in the third quarter to take an 83-65 advantage into the fourth. The lead was 20 early in the final stanza. Orlando pulled within 95-86 on two free throws by Nicholson with 3:55 to play, but New York got the lead back up to 15 on a basket by James White with 1:54 remaining.

Anthony had 14 first-half points as the Knicks had a 51-46 lead at the break. New York led by as many as 15 in the first quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Smith has scored 20 or more points in six of the last nine games. … Magic PG Jameer Nelson was 2-of-7 shooting for six points and has missed 16 of his 20 shots over the last two games. … New York was 15-of-34 from 3-point range while Orlando was 5-for-17.