Trail Blazers at Knicks
THE STORY: The New York Knicks have lost six straight games for the second time this season as they prepare to host the Portland Trail Blazers. The slide has dropped New York into a tie for the eighth and final spot of the Eastern Conference playoff race with the Milwaukee Bucks. Portland dropped to 1-3 on a seven-game road trip by falling 92-75 to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. The Trail Blazers have lost six of eight games.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Portland), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (20-22): Portland is just 6-15 on the road and was never in the contest against the Pacers while putting forth one of its worst efforts of the season. The Trail Blazers shot a season-worst 31.3 percent, made a season-low 20 baskets and had a franchise-record low five assists. Portland scored just 14 first-quarter points and tallied only 15 in the third quarter. “I don’t think we gave up,” guard Wesley Matthews said. “I don’t even focus on those words. That’s not even in my vocabulary. I don’t think anyone in this locker room is doing that.”
ABOUT THE KNICKS (18-24): New York is just 2-8 since forward Carmelo Anthony returned from a groin injury. Anthony has topped 20 points in six of the past seven games but the Knicks’ defense has dropped off significantly. New York has allowed more than 100 points in eight of the past 10 games after holding opponents to an average of 90.6 points in the seven games without Anthony. The Knicks were 6-1 in the games Anthony missed when guard Jeremy Lin was operating as the primary outside shooter. Anthony is averaging 26.3 points in 27 career games against Portland.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Portland has won seven of the last nine meetings.
2. Lin has scored 20 points just twice in the past nine games after having nine 20-point outings in a 10-game stretch.
3. Trail Blazers center Marcus Camby left the Indiana game with a shoulder injury and is questionable.