76ers at Knicks
THE STORY: The New York Knicks need to turn things around – and quickly – in the wake of a disastrous four-game road trip. The Knicks, sitting in eighth place in the East, limp into Madison Square Garden on Sunday still seeking their first victory of the month against the Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia 76ers. New York's four-game skid has dropped it 5 1/2 games behind the Sixers, who have recovered from their own swoon with impressive back-to-back victories. The Knicks beat visiting Philadelphia in January – their third straight win in the series.
TV: Noon ET, CSP, MSG, NBA TV
ABOUT THE 76ERS (24-17): Philadelphia has the luxury of perhaps the best bench tandem in the league. Guard Lou Williams (15.9 ppg) leads the team in scoring and forward Thaddeus Young is third (13.4). Each player scorer 21 points in Friday's win over Utah. Meanwhile, shooting guard Evan Turner has made a stunning transition to the starting unit. Following a career-high 26 points against Boston, he had 16 points and 12 rebounds vs. Utah, giving him 33 rebounds in his three starts.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (18-22): Here's all one needs to know about New York's defense. Despite hitting their first 11 shots and shooting nearly 60 percent in the first half, the Knicks trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter before a dramatic rally fell short in a 118-114 loss at Milwaukee on Friday. New York hopes to get center Tyson Chandler (hamstring) back in the lineup after surrendering 119 and 118 points in the last two. Amar'e Stoudemire had his second straight double-double and third in four games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Knicks, losers of seven of 10 games, are 2-6 since star forward Carmelo Anthony returned to the starting lineup.
2. After failing to reach 100 points for 19 games, the Sixers have done it in back-to-back contests and three times in the last five.
3. Two lineup changes by Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni have produced a total of five points from the starting shooting guard in the last two games.