The playoff curse is finally over.

Their backs against the wall, the New York Knicks edged the Miami Heat 89-87 at Madison Square Garden Sunday night to end their playoff losing streak and extend their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff series.

Carmelo Anthony had 41 points for New York, including a three-pointer that gave the Knicks the lead with 54 seconds remaining, to send the series back to Miami for Game 5.

The win allowed the Knicks to avoid a four-game sweep of the best-of-seven series, and halted their playoff losing streak at 13 games, an NBA record.

The last time the Knicks won a playoff game was in 2001.

Amar'e Stoudemire returned and scored 20 points after missing Game 3 with a cut on his hand that he received when he hit a fire extinguisher door following the Game 2 loss.

"When your back's against the wall like that, you have no choice but to go out there and play. Nobody wants to be swept," Knicks interim head coach Mike Woodson said before Sunday's game. "If we can force Game 5, which I think we can, we can take it to the next level."

"We've just got to take it one game and one day at a time," Anthony said.

Fans coming to the Garden got promotional t-shirts, cups, hats and posters before Sunday's game, as the team went all-out to create a winning atmosphere.

Game 5 will be Wednesday night in Miami.