NEW YORK - Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game injury absence and scored 25 points to lead the New York Knicks to a convincing 113-86 NBA victory over Detroit.

Anthony, who had been sidelined by a sprained right ankle as well as injuries to his left wrist and right thumb, appeared energized after five days of rest.

He enjoyed his best shooting night of the lockout-shortened season, making 9-of-14 shots from the field and lead all scorers in the contest.

“If we were winning, I would try to take my time, but right now, I want to try to push it and see what we can do,” Anthony said.

BOSTON 93, CLEVELAND 90

Paul Pierce scored 20 points, Ray Allen had 12 in the third quarter and the Boston Celtics avenged a disappointing loss to Cleveland two days earlier by barely holding off the Cavaliers.

The Celtics, who blew an 11-point lead at home Sunday in the final four minutes and lost by one, led by 22 late in the third quarter.

However, the Cavs rallied again behind rookie Kyrie Irving and got within two on his twisting layup with 1:18 left. But Kevin Garnett dropped in a short jumper that bounced high off the rim and Pierce made two free throws with 2.6 seconds left as the Celtics avoided further embarrassment.

Irving scored 21 points and Anderson Varejao added 20 and 20 rebounds for Cleveland.

LA LAKERS 106, CHARLOTTE 73

Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, Andrew Bynum added 20, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat slumping Charlotte, extending their home record to 11-2 and sending the Bobcats to their ninth consecutive defeat and 19th of the season.

Bynum had 11 rebounds, while Pau Gasol had 10 points and Andrew Goudelock keyed a big night for the bench with 12 points in the Lakers’ last home game before beginning their annual Grammy trip on Friday at Denver. The Lakers’ reserves outscored the Bobcats 48-30.

It was the Lakers’ biggest victory against the Bobcats, who had beaten Los Angeles in eight of their previous 11 meetings.

INDIANA 106, NEW JERSEY 99

Paul George scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Indiana Pacers past the New Jersey Nets.

Danny Granger had 21 points and seven rebounds and Roy Hibbert had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers, who went on a 12-0 run midway through the third quarter and eventually led by as much as 18 in the fourth.

ATLANTA 100, TORONTO 77

Joe Johnson needed just three quarters to match his season high with 30 points, Tracy McGrady scored 15 against his former team and the Atlanta Hawks recorded their sixth consecutive victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Atlanta’s leading scorer, Johnson has averaged 30 points in his past four games against Toronto.

Jeff Teague, Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia each scored 10 points as the Hawks won their third straight.

MEMPHIES 100, DENVER 97

O.J. Mayo scored 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in overtime, as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Mayo’s basket gave Memphis a 98-97 lead, and two free throws by Mike Conley with 8 seconds left gave Memphis the final margin. Rudy Fernandez’s potential tying 3-point attempt in the closing seconds for Denver bounced off the rim, sending the Nuggets to their second straight loss.

GOLDEN STATE 93, SACRAMENTO 90

Brandon Rush scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to spark a late rally, and the Golden State Warriors spoiled former coach Keith Smart’s return with a victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Rush finished 4 for 5 from 3-point range and highlighted a 9-0 run to start the final period that carried new Warriors coach Mark Jackson past his predecessor. Jackson also sat stars Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis for almost the entire fourth quarter, riding his bench with an unconventional move.