MIAMI — Carmelo Anthony’s role Friday night was to sit on the bench in a gray suit. The Knicks took care of the rest.
Anthony “rested” another game — his third in the last five games — as the Knicks finished a home-and-home versus the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on Friday by cooling off the scorching Heat with a stunning 98-94 victory.
With Anthony and Derrick Rose (sore left knee) out, the Knicks were more active defensively and moved the ball better. Ron Baker became an effective floor leader for a night. It was a potential look into the future as Rose and Anthony could be gone next season.
Back as the No. 1 option, Kristaps Porzingis struck for 22 points and seven rebounds as the Knicks moved to 29-47 and played spoiler one game after getting mathematically eliminated from the playoff race.
“I think we came out way better than the first game against the Heat [Wednesday],” Porzingis said. “They kind of punked us the first game. We came out with a different mentality, playing strong, defense the whole game and offensively we shared the ball. It was the defense that made us win the game.”
Courtney Lee added 20 points, including a key jumper with 2:21 that lifted the Knicks ahead 96-90 and two game-clinching free throws with 2.6 seconds left, putting the Knicks up 98-92. Baker notched all 10 of his points and six assists in the first half.
Ahead 96-94 with 12.3 seconds left, the Knicks held on when Goran Dragic drove past Baker, but his driving layup was interfered with by Hassan Whiteside. The Miami center was flagged for an offensive goaltending with seven seconds left as Dragic’s ball still lingered on the rim when he tapped at it.
The Knicks, who got off to a 15-4 start, led 59-55 at halftime, as Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez combined up front to score 24 points. Hernangomez finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds and Justin Holiday came off the bench to deliver 12 points. Sasha Vujacic made his first start and recorded nine points and seven assists.
An active Lee got a steal at midcourt and went in for a layup at the buzzer as the Knicks led 33-29 after one.
Anthony, who made himself unavailable for comment, was apparently suffering from a sore back after getting hit Monday by Detroit’s Arron Baynes. Surely he has a sore frame of mind. After that loss to Miami, in which he scored nine points and was scoreless in the first half, Anthony questioned his role.
“Honestly I don’t know my role at this point,” Anthony said.
Though some portrayed it as his confusion with his role these final few games as the Knicks wind down another miserable season by playing young players, the remark seemed more cryptic than that — an indicator of his uncertain long-term status with the Knicks.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek brushed off the comment.
“We’re giving young guys an opportunity to play a little more,’’ Hornacek said. “Miami [in that] game [Wednesday] put a lot of pressure on our guys. We weren’t entering into the usual spots. Carmelo didn’t get as much. But they did a better job in the second half of getting him the ball.’’
Rose admitted the Knicks have a more glittering roster than, say, the Heat.
“I think we’re more talented, but it shows that basketball is a team sport,” Rose said.
The Knicks were also missing Lance Thomas (hip). … Suspended Joakim Noah traveled with the team.