CLEVELAND -- Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 37 points and dished out 11 assists in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

It was the All-Star point guard's third double-double of the season. He converted 14-of-23 shots from the field, including 4-of-7 from behind the arc.

The Cavs (8-13) have now won four of their last five games to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Forward Carmelo Anthony paced the Knicks (5-15) with 29 points and eight assists.

New York has lost 11 of its last 13 games.

The Cavs shot a season-high 56 percent from the field.

They also pushed the Knicks around on the boards, 38-31.

Veteran guard Jarrett Jack came off the bench to score 17 points for the Cavs, while forward Tristan Thompson added 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

For the Knicks, forward Amar'e Stoudemire scored 15 points and had five rebounds in a reserve role. Guard J.R. Smith added 14 points and center Andrea Bargnani had 11 points.

New York trailed by just one point in the third quarter, 53-52. That's when Thompson responded with a dazzling, one-handed follow slam with 8:26 left in the third.

From that point, the Cavs closed the quarter on a staggering 26-13 run. They had a commanding 81-65 lead after three quarters.

Irving had piled up 27 points and nine assists through three quarter. Thompson has 12 points and five rebounds.

The Knicks had rallied to get back into contention in the first half. They trimmed an 18-point deficit down to two points in the second quarter. However, the Cavs still held a 48-45 lead at halftime.

The Cavs won the battle of the boards in the first half, 24-15.

Cavs shot 50 percent in the first half, compared to the Knicks' 40.4 percent.

The Cavs committed eight turnovers in the second quarter, which allowed the Knicks back in the game.

Stoudemire had nine points in the second quarter for the Knicks.

The Knicks outscored the Cavs in the second quarter, 26-17.

The Cavs had been almost flawless in the first quarter, as they jumped out to a 31-19 lead.

They committed just two turnovers, outrebounded the Knicks 15-8, and shot 52.9 percent from the field.

NOTES: The Knicks were missing two key frontcourt players: C Tyson Chandler (non-displaced fracture of the right fibula) and F Kenyon Martin (sore left ankle). F Metta World Peace made his first start for New York. ... Chandler is back practicing in non-contact drills. The earliest he could return is 10 days to two weeks. ... Cavaliers coach Mike Brown dabbled with using the three-guard lineup at times this year with Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Jarrett Jack, even though he is not a fan of using undersized players. "I'm surprised how much I've used it and, at times, how affective it's been," Brown said. ... Brown said he is going with a set rotation -- finally. "I'm looking from some consistency," he said. "I'm sure they are looking for some consistency from me."