Carmelo Anthony missed two games due to injury or illness earlier this season, and the Knicks lost both of them.
They seemingly have a better chance to win on Wednesday without their $124 million forward, facing the messy Nets at Barclays Center with Anthony sidelined due to a sprained right ankle suffered the previous night against Boston.
With the eight-time All-Star missing essentially the entire second half - and with rookie Kristaps Porzingis fouling out in the fourth quarter - the Knicks pulled out an important 120-114 victory, their fifth win in six games to even their record at 20-20 for the season.