Carmelo Anthony sprains ankle after stepping on ref's foot

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony did not return to Tuesday's game after sustaining a sprained ankle.

Anthony rolled his ankle after stepping on the foot of an official. He stayed down for a bit before walking off the court, and made a brief return in the second half after having his ankle re-taped.

He tried it out for a possession before checking out of the game for good. Fortunately, X-rays were negative.

Despite a sharp decline in scoring numbers, Anthony is enjoying perhaps his best season as a Knick. He's improved his all-around game, averaging a career-high 3.8 assists per game to go along with 21.7 points and 7.7 rebounds.

It goes without saying that missing Anthony for any extended stretch would deal a significant blow to the upstart Knicks, who sit just 1.5 games out of a playoff spot after a 17-win campaign in 2014-15.