Bobcats at Knicks
THE STORY: The New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats will try to break their losing ways when they meet at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have lost three of four since winning their opener. Amar'e Stoudemire, who has missed the last two games with a sprained left ankle, could return. The Knicks have been struggling to score without their star forward, who is averaging 17.3 points. Guard Iman Shumpert, the Knicks' No. 1 draft pick, could also be back on the floor. He hasn't played since injuring his right knee in the season's first game. Charlotte coach Paul Silas was hit with a technical foul in Tuesday's 115-101 loss - the Bobcats' fourth straight defeat - in Cleveland. Following the game he blasted his players' lackluster effort. "We're not talented enough to not play hard all the time." he said. "It's just not gonna work if we don't play hard all the time."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sports South Charlotte (Charlotte), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (1-4): It's been a tough time for Charlotte after an opening night win over Milwaukee. The Bobcats failed to hold a big lead at home against Miami and lost on Dwyane Wade's last-second shot. It's been nothing but blowouts since. Charlotte's last three losses have been by an average of 24.7 points per game. D.J. Augustin scored a season-high 26 points with nine assists Tuesday, but the Bobcats seemed to pack it in when they fell behind in the second half.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (2-3): New York fans were thinking big when the Knicks took a two-point win over Boston on Christmas Day. The mood in the Big Apple has changed considerably since. The Knicks were booed off the floor during Monday's 90-85 loss to Toronto. New York shot 36 percent against the Raptors and is averaging only 93 points a game. Carmelo Anthony has assumed a bigger scoring load in Stoudemire's absence. He's averaging 27 points, but is shooting only 44 percent.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Knicks took two of three from the Bobcats last season. The teams have split their last 10 games.
2. Charlotte backup center DeSagana Diop has played in four of Charlotte's five games. He is 0-of-7 in 47 scoreless minutes.
3. New York scored 11 points in the second quarter against Toronto, hitting just three of 19 shots.