Knicks edge Magic, lose Anthony to sprained ankle

Orlando Magic’s Victor Oladipo (5) shoots as he gets past New York Knicks’ Tim Hardaway Jr., right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. AP/John Raoux

ORLANDO – The New York Knicks lost Carmelo Anthony to a sprained ankle, but turned back a furious Orlando rally to post a 103-98 NBA victory over the Magic on Monday.

Knicks forward Anthony had 19 points when he departed the contest midway through the third quarter after appearing to twist his left ankle on Orlando center Nikola Vucevic’s foot while trying to grab an offensive rebound.

His exit signalled the start of a Magic surge as they erased a 24-point halftime deficit and narrowed the gap to 83-84 with 8:28 left to play.

“All teams make runs and they made a hell of a run,” Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said of the Magic’s surge.

“We just kept fighting and grinding and withstood the run and really made some defensive stops down the stretch to help us secure the game,” Woodson said.

The coach said he wasn’t yet sure how severe Anthony’s injury was.

“We’ll evaluate him tomorrow,” Woodson said.

The Knicks had welcomed Raymond Felton back to action after a six-game absence with a sore left hamstring.

But Felton exited in the fourth quarter with a right groin strain, finishing with 13 points and four assists in 25-plus minutes.

J.R. Smith had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyson Chandler scored 10 points to go with 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who beat the Magic for an eighth straight time.

Arron Afflalo led the Magic with 26 points and Glen Davis chipped in 20 for an Orlando team that have lost 11 of their last 13 contests.