J.R. Smith puts up a three-pointer in the closing seconds against the Orlando Magic on November 12, 2014 at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Jesse Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) J.R. Smith puts up a three-pointer in the closing seconds against the Orlando Magic on November 12, 2014 at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Jesse Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith insists he took the best shot available in the final seconds of Wednesday night’s loss to Orlando.

The Knicks had a chance after Carmelo Anthony made a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left to cut their deficit to 96-95. The Magic’s Evan Fournier missed the second of two free throws with 3.8 to go, but J.R. Smith was nowhere close on a potential winning 3-point attempt.

The ball never got to Anthony, who appeared to be calling for it.

“If I forced it into him, what kind of shot will he really have — a turnaround, fadeaway?” Smith said after the 97-95 loss, according to the New York Post. “It’s not the best shot we’d want. I don’t think it’s enough time for him to set his feet and do what he wanted to do. I think we went with the best shot and the right shot. I just didn’t make it.”

Anthony said “of course” he wanted the final shot, though whether Smith could have delivered the ball “is a different question.”

“He had an open shot or thought he had an open shot,” Anthony said. “I don’t think I’m going to get it every time.”

Coach Derek Fisher said he didn’t draw up a play looking for a 3-pointer, only that there were multiple options and that Smith trusted himself to take the shot.

“We live with that,” Fisher said. “I have no problem with a guy believing in himself that he can help his team.”

It was the Knicks’ sixth straight loss, dropping them to 2-7 on the year.

Anthony scored 27 points for the Knicks, who were held to 19 in the fourth quarter and still haven’t reached 100 this season. But he picked up a fifth foul and went to the bench with 5:41 to play, and the Knicks were shut out during the 2 minutes he sat as the Magic extended their lead.

Smith finished with 19 points.

“I don’t think it should come down to the last play of the game,” Anthony said. “Losing is tough. I thought this was a game we could have went out there and gotten tonight, kind of get that monkey off our back. So this is a tough one to swallow.”

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