Carmelo Anthony had 39 points and 10 rebounds for the second consecutive game and the New York Knicks earned their second consecutive victory, holding off a spirited effort by the visiting New Jersey Nets for a 120-116 victory on Wednesday night.

New York (37-38) finished a brutal 18-game March on an up note and will focus on the playoffs. Anthony already appears set for the postseason having scored 39 and grabbed 10 rebounds against Orlando on Monday.

Chauncey Billups scored 33 and was 10 of 10 from the free-throw line. He also added six rebounds and six assists. Amar'e Stoudemire scored 23.

Deron Williams returned to the Nets' lineup after missing six games with a strained tendon in his right wrist. Williams had 22 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.

Toney Douglas gave the Knicks a 118-114 lead with two free throws with 42 seconds left. Humphries made it 118-116 with a tip-in, but Williams missed a jumper from the right baseline with and the Knicks survived on Billups' two free throws.

For New Jersey (23-51), Anthony Morrow scored a season-high 30 on 10-of-15 shooting. Brook Lopez had 26 points and nine rebounds. Kris Humphries had 15 points and 14 rebounds.