MIAMI — Something special is brewing since the new year dawned and the Knicks were embarrassed by the Bulls in Chicago on Jan. 1.
Since that nightmarish fourth quarter in which they were outscored 31-8, the Knicks have weaved a trio of masterpieces. They continued sweeping through the South for a third straight victory Wednesday, hammering the mighty Heat 98-90 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Carmelo Anthony almost couldn’t miss in his season’s most efficient game, scoring 25 points on just 12 shots. He was a swish machine — making 9-of-12 attempts, hitting 7-of-8 free throws and dishing out four assists.
Starting center Robin Lopez was Anthony’s wingman — a monster in the paint in by far his best game as a Knick. Lopez scored 19 points, making 9-of-12 shots, all inside.
The Knicks suddenly look like a different team since the Chicago beatdown, with the home-and-home sweep versus Atlanta and bottling up Miami, which never even made a run. Knicks coach Derek Fisher is calling the Bulls’ loss a potential “turning point.’’ He called his players out afterward, saying they all but quit on the game and staged a lengthy film session the following day.
“That was a very embarrassing loss for us,’’ Anthony said. “What [the streak] tells me is when we play the way we should be playing, we can beat any team that’s out there. We’re showing that the last few games.’’
Rookie Kristaps Porzingis’ up-and-down evening didn’t prevent the Knicks from posting their fourth victory in five games. The Knicks moved to 18-19, two games out of the East’s eighth seed. They have now surpassed last season’s win total when they were a 17-65 disgrace. The small throng of transplanted New Yorkers in attendance gave the Knicks a loud ovation in the final 30 seconds.
The Knicks figured to be worn down on the second night of a back-to-back against Miami (21-14), which beat them twice in November. Didn’t happen.
“We’re light years away from that with our execution,’’ Fisher said.
They jelled again in their sharp-looking triangle offense and a suddenly gritty defense that limited Dwyane Wade to 18 points after his hot first quarter.
The Knicks led by double-digits most of the second half and never let Miami within seven.
“I thought there was a level of composure and poise the guys showed, even when we had a bad possession’’ Fisher said. “We were intense, but there was a relaxed look as if we were in control of what we wanted to do.’’
The gaudy night was capped by Lopez’s ferocious putback with 3:30 left after Anthony whipped a pass to Porzingis inside. Porzingis missed, but Lopez threw it down for his 18th and 19th points — a season high.
“Robin was unbelievable tonight,’’ Anthony said.
So was Anthony, who played 40 minutes in Atlanta Tuesday. He was as efficient as he’s been all season, distributing slickly and taking the proper amount of shots.
“I just thought he was patient,’’ Fisher said. “I think that’s something he’s worked really hard to develop as the season’s gone on. I think he can be efficient when he plays relaxed, poised and confident. That’s how he played tonight.’’
The Knicks moved to 5-5 during this 11-game stretch, all against winning clubs. That will conclude Friday in San Antonio, where the Spurs haven’t been beaten. But the Knicks already have delivered a statement.
“You always want to beat the winning team,’’ Lopez said.
The Knicks kept pounding Lopez with passes in the post — a triangle staple that creates the spacing.
“I was pretty comfortable out there,’’ Lopez said. “Guys are getting confidence in one another. It fosters a relaxed but intense style of play.’’
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra sensed this could be trouble despite easily handling the Knicks twice previously.
“They didn’t even look like they were fazed by a good defensive team in the last two games,’’ Spoelstra said of the Knicks’ wins vs. Atlanta. “They look like a different team than when we last played them.’’
Heat president Pat Riley looked on with his gray goatee that may have grown whiter as the night carried on, watching the Knicks dominate.
“Guys are taking pride in their defense,’’ Fisher said.
Derrick Williams also provided a bench spark, scoring 13 points, including three powerful dunks. Porzingis finished with 12 points and four rebounds, shooting just 3-of-10 and missing a high-flying driving dunk. It was the lone lowlight of a magnificent evening.