KNICKS 111, BUCKS 107: Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and 10 rebounds and J.R. Smith made a 3-pointer for the go-ahead score as visiting New York gained a game on Milwaukee for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The Knicks (30-28) took a two-game edge on the Bucks (28-30) for eighth in the East and also evened their season series at two games apiece.

Tyson Chandler had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks. Iman Shumpert scored 16 and Smith had 14.

Monta Ellis led the Bucks with 35 points on 14-for-25 shooting and 10 assists. Brandon Jennings had 22 points and seven assists. Reserve Mike Dunleavy scored 19.

The game went to the wire. Anthony put the Knicks up 103-100 with 2:42 left. Ekpe Udoh cut it to 103-102. Ellis’ 3-pointer with 1:45 remaining gave the Bucks a 105-103 lead.

Anthony tied it at 105-105 and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute made it 107-105 before Smith’s 3-pointer put the Knicks up 108-107.

Steve Novak’s free throws made it 110-107. Jennings missed a 3-pointer and Shumpert added the final free throw.

The Knicks were 17 of 22 (77.3 percent) in the first quarter, including 13 on either layups or dunks.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Knicks had lost four of five and 10 of their last 13 on the road, and had lost four in a row in Milwaukee. … The Knicks made 14 of 15 shots for 28 points in the paint in the first quarter.