Hornets at Knicks
THE STORY: The red-hot New York Knicks will look for their eighth straight win Friday when they host the New Orleans Hornets. It is the only meeting between the teams this season. The Knicks’ winning streak has helped them climb into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets, despite their first two-game win streak since opening the season 2-0, are mired in last place in the Southwest Division.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, MSG
ABOUT THE HORNETS (6-23): New Orleans, which is 2-8 in its last 10 games, is coming off a 92-89 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The win came despite dressing just 10 players, and without their three leading scorers, leading rebounder and leading assist man. But, on the back of a career-high six three-pointers, Marco Belinelli led the way with a season-high 22 points. Chris Kaman collected 18 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Gustavo Ayon posted a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 boards.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (15-15): New York, which is 8-2 in its last 10 games, is coming off a 100-85 home win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Jeremy Lin scored 10 points to go along with a career-high 13 assists in just 26 minutes. Bill Walker added 14 points while Amar’e Stoudemire, playing in his first game since missing a week mourning the death of his brother, had 11 points and five rebounds. Jared Jefferies, back to the bench with Stoudemire’s return, had 10 points and nine rebounds. It was his third double-digit scoring contest in his last six games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Lin, reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, has scored 136 points in his first five starts. That’s the most by any NBA player since the league merged with the ABA in 1976.
2. The Knicks have won six straight meetings against the Hornets.