Big week for Melo, New York Knicks and perhaps … Honey Nut Cheerios

Losers of 10 out of 16 games from Feb. 10 to March 17, the New York Knicks (42-26) have won four straight to maintain a slight edge over the Indiana Pacers (43-27) for the NBA Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed.

With the top-seeded Miami Heat (55-14) virtually out of reach courtesy of a 26-game winning streak dating back to Feb. 3, New York’s schedule this week has greatly increased in importance. Carmelo Anthony and Co. play the Boston Celtics (36-33) at TD Garden Tuesday night, and return home to face the Memphis Grizzlies (47-22), Charlotte Bobcats (16-54) and Celtics on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, respectively.

The two games vs. Boston this week will, unavoidably, be shadowed by the controversy between Anthony and Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, who drew Anthony’s ire by allegedly telling the Knicks star that his wife, La La Vazquez, tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios during a Knicks-Celtics game at Madison Square Garden earlier this year.

Anthony and Garnett have reportedly settled the strife caused by the suggestive remark, but there’s no telling what a pair of important games between New York and Boston over the next several days could yield. Stay tuned.