ATLANTA — James Dolan called it right. For a change.
Sparked by the Knicks owner’s guarantee of a victory and a new starting lineup featuring J.R. Smith, the Knicks turned Dolan into Joe Namath for one night at Philips Arena in busting up the Hawks Wednesday, 95-91, lessening the stench of Sunday’s matinee horror against San Antonio.
The Knicks built a 17-point lead in the first half, withstood the Hawks’ rally in which Atlanta went up six points in the fourth quarter and pummeled their hosts down the stretch.
The Knicks, who turned the ball over just three times, moved to 3-4 and delighted the large army of New York fans in the arena.
“Melo said something about it today,” Smith said of the guarantee. “When I heard it, I was like, ‘more pressure.’ But it’s a good thing. Any owner who’s that enthused about his team, it’s a great thing.”
“Bottom line is we’re here to win,’’ coach Mike Woodson said. “When we step on the floor, I expect guys to win.”
Carmelo Anthony shook off an awful third quarter and led the Knicks’ final rally to finish with 25 points (9-of-24 shooting). And Andrea Bargnani, who scored 20 points with 11 rebounds, hit the game-clincher. It came on a ridiculous banked 3-pointer from up top with 2:45 left to put the Knicks up 90-81. Dolan surely didn’t call glass, but he called this win.
“We didn’t have to win because our owner said we had to win,’’ Anthony said. “We had to win for ourselves first. And now that we won, it gives him that satisfaction.
“This was a great way to get back on track,’’ Anthony added. “Anytime you can win on the road, it’s always a big win — a much better effort than we put forth in the San Antonio game. I’m glad to see we responded in a good fashion and put that game behind us.’’
The Knicks have another challenge Thursday as they try to reach the .500 mark when Houston’s Jeremy Lin and Dwight Howard come to the Garden.
Dolan had made his guarantee on stage at a Manhattan blues club during his band’s performance Sunday night. “We’re going to win the next game,” he said, “I guarantee it.’’
Woodson still can’t guarantee his starting lineup, but he moved Smith in there for the second time in his Knicks career in place of Pablo Prigioni. It worked, with four of the five starters hitting double figures — Bargnani, Anthony, Raymond Felton (10) and Smith (12).
“I was happy with it,’’ Anthony said. “We won. We really don’t know who’s going to be in the lineup day in, day out. We just go with the flow. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.’’
Smith looked nothing like he did in his San Antonio debut when he shot 1-of-9 with four turnovers. He moved the ball, didn’t press and made his shots early. He hit his first three buckets — two from the 3-point line — notching nine points in the opening six minutes. It set a good tone as the Knicks raced to a 17-point lead in the second quarter and led 55-45 at halftime. Smith finished 4-of-10 from the field.
“It was my first start,’’ Smith said. “I was kind of anxious about that. It’s easier to be settled on the road than at the Garden. The shots fell early. To be able to start the game on a good note felt good.’’
But it all came apart in a 23-10 third quarter and Dolan had to be singing the blues. The Knicks fell behind 78-72 with 8:16 left after a Kyle Korver 3-pointer.
Not to worry. The Knicks responded with an 11-0 run, as Anthony scored on a wicked drive down the lane and then hit an ensuing 3-pointer to tie it at 78. A Felton pull-up jumper gave them an 80-78 lead with 6:08 left and Bargnani banged in a 3-pointer from up top to put the Knicks in the lead, 83-78, with 5:49 left to cap the run and they were home free.
“We held our poise down the stretch,’’ Woodson said. “The third quarter was a disaster.’’
And they backed up their owner’s boast.