Led by Carmelo Anthony’s career-high-tying 50 points, the New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat 102-90.

The Heat were without injured starters LeBron James (right hamstring), Dwyane Wade (right ankle/knee) and Mario Chalmers (right ankle) who all sat out with minor injuries for the second game in a row.

Chris Bosh had 23 points, and Mike Miller added 18 points to lead the Heat. But Miller was held scoreless in the second half.

The Knicks extended their winning streak to nine games, the longest active string in the NBA. The Knicks also tied the Indiana Pacers in the battle for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

A third win from four games against Miami this season is a major psychological boost for the Knicks, who could come up against the Heat in the playoffs.

Knicks head coach Mike Woodson was fullsome in his praise for Anthony, who hit the 50-point mark for the third time in his career.

"He was unbelievable. He refused to let us lose tonight. He mad big plays and big shots,” he told reporters.

"I have seen some games like this throughout the season from Carmelo Anthony. He had it going early and it was consistent all the way through. When we needed a big bucket, he came up with it.”

Anthony was 18 of 26 from the field and reached the 50-point mark with 16.9 seconds left on the clock as the Knicks dominated the fourth quarter.

"He wasn’t forcing anything. Some things come easy for great players and tonight he did everything he was supposed to do to put us in a position to win,” added Woodson.

Anthony said he felt in form from the first touch.

"It was just from the start of the game. It is a feeling sometimes you have out on the court, sometimes you get off to a good start and get cold throughout the game but tonight wasn’t one of those cases,” he told reporters.

Agencies