New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony Puts Team on Back in Win over Milwaukee Bucks

It wasn't pretty, but Carmelo Anthony led the New York Knicks to a win in their first game without Jeremy Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire against the Milwaukee Bucks in what amounted to a gutsy performance, 89-80.

Lin is day-to-day with a sore knee, while Stoudemire is a more serious case, being out indefinitely with a bulging disc in his back.

So naturally, Anthony was going to have to step up without two of the Knicks' starting players in the lineup, and he did just that with a double-double–scoring 28 points and grabbing 12 boards.

As a team, the Knicks were abysmal, as they shot just 35 percent from the floor and only 22 percent from beyond the arc.

Anthony, on the other hand, shot 8-20 from the floor and more importantly looked aggressive hitting 12-12 from the free-throw line as he relentlessly attacked the basket. His 12 rebounds were significant considering Melo started at the four tonight in place of the injured Stoudemire.

Baron Davis contributed 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds in place of Lin at the point.

New York should be thanking Milwaukee whose woeful shooting was led by Brandon Jennings (6-22) and Monta Ellis (2-14). Both couldn't hit an open look if their lives depended on it.

Defensive pressure, and just a bad night overall, led to the countless easy hoops that were squandered by the Bucks' new starting back-court pairing.

Mike Dunleavy Jr. single-handedly kept Milwaukee in the game with 26 points and 10-14 shooting, but most of his damage came in the first half, and none of it came in the fourth quarter.

While a dreadful 23 turnovers helped highlight a major problem for this team, the Knicks did show extra effort on the defensive side of the ball, and that same effort afforded them 13 offensive rebounds.

What a time for Melo to have his best game under coach Mike Woodson. It will take much more of these games from Anthony for the Knicks to keep rolling without two of their best players, and especially with Stoudemire apparently heading for a longer injury stint.

This was a huge win for the Knicks and gives them breathing room for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Here's Carmelo Anthony's chance to become the savior and superstar player the Knicks thought they were getting when they traded for him last season.

Now is his time to shine.