Knicks 110, Nets 81: J.R. Smith led a balanced attack with 24 points as host New York continued its surge toward a possible playoff berth.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points for the Knicks, who have won three straight and 12 of 15 to pull even with Atlanta in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, part of a 60 percent effort from the field for New York.

Joe Johnson led the Nets with 16 points while Deron Williams added 12. Brooklyn, which clinched a playoff spot with a win over Houston on Tuesday, was outrebounded 41-23 in falling 2 1/2 games behind Chicago and Atlantic Division-leading Toronto.

Alan Anderson hit two free throws to put Brooklyn up 20-19 late in the first quarter but it was all New York thereafter, as the Knicks received two 3-pointers by Hardaway in a 15-0 run that extended into the second. An 18-6 burst finished the half for New York, which shot 66.7 percent to take a 63-38 lead into the locker room.

Paul Pierce and Mason Plumlee stepped it up in the third quarter to help pull the Nets within 14 points before Pablo Prigioni and Smith hit 3-pointers in a quick 8-0 burst that restored order for the hosts. The lead ballooned to as many as 33 in the fourth as the Knicks took a 2-1 season series lead in advance of the final matchup April 15 in Brooklyn.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Johnson was whistled for a technical foul as the first half expired and Pierce was called for a flagrant foul in the third. ... Williams finished without an assist for the third time this season. ... Anthony had a game-high 10 rebounds while Smith chipped in eight boards and a game-high six assists.