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Banged-up Knicks host Howard, Magic

Mar 28, 2012 - 3:10 PM (Sports Network) - The playoff-hopeful New York Knicks will close out a three- game homestand tonight versus the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks are two games ahead of Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and have won seven of their last eight games, including Monday's 89-80 triumph over the Bucks. Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis netted 13 points apiece for New York, which won despite shooting 35.1 percent and committing 23 turnovers.

"It was huge," Chandler said of Anthony's performance. "I know that he's been upset with himself but we all told him that he's been playing great for us, especially on this winning streak."

Iman Shumpert posted 11 points in the win. Jeremy Lin did not play because of a sore knee and Amare Stoudemire was absent due to a bulging disc in his back. Lin has been ruled out for Wednesday and will be day-to-day moving forward while Stoudemire is expected to miss the next two to four weeks. Anthony, meanwhile, is questionable tonight because of a sore groin but expects to play.

New York is 7-1 under interim coach Mike Woodson and 16-10 at MSG. It has won five in a row as the host.

Orlando is seeded third in the Eastern Conference and has won three straight since losing three of four games.

In a 117-101 win at Toronto on Monday, Ryan Anderson connected on 8-of-13 three-point attempts en route to a game-high 28 points.

"It was just us moving the ball and coming out with a ton of energy," Anderson said postgame. "We were getting into pick-and-rolls and really moving the defense around. That's something we need to do more of."

Dwight Howard ended with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Jameer Nelson added 18 points and seven assists for the Magic, who improved to 14-10 away from home this season and shot 54.3 percent.

The Magic won the first meeting with New York, 102-93, at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 16 and are 14-3 in the past 17 matchups between the teams. They have also prevailed in five of their last six trips to the Big Apple.