New York Knicks Amar’e Stoudemire blocks Orlando Magic’s Gilbert Arenas in the first quarter during their NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA, on Monday. (EPA)
Reuters/New York

Carmelo Anthony helped lift the Knicks out of their recent slump with 39 points and 10 rebounds in New York’s 113-106 overtime win over the Orlando Magic on Monday.
The Knicks’ recent lack of chemistry had been under the microscope heading into the game but despite giving up the lead and being forced into overtime they held their nerve to snap a six-game losing streak.
“We had a will to win,” Anthony told reporters after his highest scoring effort since joining the Knicks in February’s blockbuster trade. “We knew that the day would come when we would get out of this hole and stop the losing streak.”
New York led 96-90 with about a minute left in the fourth quarter before Orlando rallied to send the game into overtime on Jason Richardson’s game-tying three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation.
The Knicks recovered in the extra session where they opened play with two three-pointers and closed with the final five points.
Chauncey Billups made a three-pointer to put the home team in front 106-104 with 3:15 to go in overtime and New York (36-38) never trailed after that.
Amar’e Stoudemire added 20 points and nine rebounds in the winning effort and the Knicks stayed two games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for sixth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Dwight Howard led the way for the Magic (47-27) with 29 points and 18 rebounds but managed just two points in overtime.
He picked up his 17th technical foul of the season late in the game. One more will earn him a second one-game suspension.
The NBA gives a mandatory one-game suspension when a player reaches 16 technicals and dishes out more suspensions for every two technical calls after that.
Orlando, who had beaten the Knicks in their last six meetings, also saw a five-game win streak snapped and remain fourth in the East.
Elsewhere, the shorthanded Charlotte Bobcats rallied to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 87-86 in an National Basketball Association contest between two teams fighting for playoff berths.
Gerald Henderson scored 16 points as the Bobcats came from behind Monday to win their third in a row and move within a game of the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Henderson had Charlotte’s final seven points.
Stephen Jackson scored 18 points while Boris Diaw, DJ Augustin and Matt Carroll each had 10 points for Charlotte, who staged a fourth-quarter comeback.
Like the Bobcats, Milwaukee is battling to get into the post-season. The Bucks are three games back of eighth spot.
Brandon Jennings had 26 points and nine rebounds and Australia’s Andrew Bogut added another 26 points for Milwaukee who lost their second straight game.
Bucks all-star Michael Redd played 15 minutes in his season debut and had four assists. Redd underwent knee surgery more than a year ago.
Charlotte charged from behind in the fourth despite losing both Augustin and Shaun Livingston to injuries in the second half.