Smith returned from a one-game benching for unsportsmanlike conduct and scored all of his 11 points in the game-turning second quarter Saturday night to help the New York Knicks to a 102-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points and Carmelo Anthony added 18 for the Knicks (14-22), who have won four straight.

"I just wanted to be aggressive, attack, get back to my old self, play with a chip on my shoulder and it worked," Smith said. "It was very important for me as well as the team to get out there and be successful with scoring the ball and getting my teammates open shots."

Knicks coach Mike Woodson benched Smith for the entire first quarter before inserting him at the start of the second. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year was benched on Thursday and was fined $50,000 by the league for unsportsmanlike conduct after untying or attempting to untie the shoelaces of opponents in two straight games.

"That's the worst feeling in the world, someone takes the game away from you, especially something you love," Smith said. "It's all you know, you've been doing it your whole life."

"Be serious, be a professional and don't take this opportunity for granted," Smith on the lesson he learned. "There's a lot of people in the world who want our jobs and we can't take it for granted. It can be taken away just that fast."

Said Woodson: "It was a total team effort, not just about J.R. He played well and we're going to need him to play well but I'm proud of everybody."

Besides Smith, the Knicks got a boost from Stoudemire, who went 8 for 10 from the field.

"Fantastic," Woodson said of Stoudemire's performance. "He got stronger as the game went on. He was a force and defensively he was solid. He's playing well and we have to keep him at that level."


ALDRIDGE PLANS


There was talk that LaMarcus Aldridge wanted out of Portland only a year ago, and now, with the Trail Blazers owning second-best record in the West, he's prepared to re-sign, according to the Portland Tribune (via Blazer's Edge).

Alridge, who agreed to a five-year, $65 million in 2009, said he would be willing to sign a new deal to stay in Portland. His contract is set to expire at the end of the 2014-15 season.

"I would like to re-sign here," he says. "If they want to talk about it, I would talk about it. They haven't yet, but I'm looking forward to the chance to do that."

The Blazers have dealt with talk about Aldridge's status before, and they don't plan to have his contract distract the team after it's best start to season in years.

"When the appropriate time comes, which is not now, that is a conversation that will happen between (owner) Paul Allen, myself, LaMarcus and his agent (Arn Tellum)," General Manager Neil Olshey said. "It's not a conversation that's going to play out in the media in January."


NBA MISTAKE


The NBA says an officiating mistake at the end of this weekend's game between Dallas and New Orleans cost the Pelicans a chance to tie it.

This was the second time in two weeks the NBA acknowledged a missed call near the end of a close game won by the Mavericks.

President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn said Sunday that a foul should've been called on Monta Ellis of the Mavericks as Austin Rivers tried a 3-point shot at the last second.

Rivers was tied up by Ellis and the shot got nowhere close to the basket Saturday night. The Mavericks won at home 110-107.

Thorn says a review of postgame video shows Ellis made contact with Austin's arms. The NBA says Austin should have been given three free throws with sixth-tenths of a second left.

Pelicans coach Monty Williams argued for a foul as the officials left the court. He later said it was "embarrassing" that there was no call.

On Dec. 31, the NBA said it missed a call in the closing seconds of a game between the Mavericks and Minnesota. A day after Dallas won on the road 100-98, the league said Timberwolves star Kevin Love was fouled by Shawn Marion and should have gotten two free throws.


ROBERSON CALL


The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Andre Roberson from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

During his most recent assignment to Tulsa, Roberson helped the 66ers to a 1-1 record while averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Roberson has played in five games with Tulsa this season and is averaging 15.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game.

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press