The New York Knicks need all the help they can get to snap a franchise-record 16-game losing streak, and they might be aided by injuries to key players when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. The Pelicans are likely to remain without star forward Anthony Davis and point guard Jrue Holiday, though their absence didn't stop New Orleans from a 95-93 win at Toronto on Sunday. The Knicks have lost 26 of their last 27 and have the worst record in the NBA.
New Orleans looked lost without two of its top three scorers in a loss at lowly Philadelphia on Friday but rebounded in a big way against the Raptors. "Doing that without Jrue and A.D. was big for us," Pelicans coach Monty Williams told reporters. "On the road, after the loss we had the other day in Philly, you would have thought we would have folded, and we did not." The Knicks, who have had three days off following a 95-79 loss to Milwaukee in London, haven't won at home since Nov. 22.
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (20-20): Davis (24.2 points, 10.4 rebounds) and Holiday (15.2 points, 7.1 assists) are both listed as questionable, and their continued absence would be a big blow to New Orleans. Tyreke Evans (16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists) has to carry the load without them, especially if sharpshooter Ryan Anderson (15 points, 5.2 rebounds) struggles with his shot as he did against the Raptors. Journeyman center Alexis Ajinca (5.2 points, 3.8 rebounds) has taken advantage of his increased minutes the past two games, tallying a double-double against Philadelphia and scoring a career-high 22 points against Toronto.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (5-36): New York got star Carmelo Anthony (23.9 points, 6.5 rebounds) back against the Bucks, but his 26 points didn't do much to offset committing eight of the Knicks' 21 turnovers. Amar'e Stoudemire (12.7 points, 7.2 rebounds) also returned to the lineup in London after missing nine straight games and 11 of the previous 12, but he played only eight minutes and continues to nurse a knee injury. The Knicks turned in a decent defensive effort by holding Milwaukee to 38.9 percent form the field, but they've allowed opponents to shoot 48.5 percent during the 16-game skid.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans haven't won consecutive games since Dec. 16 and 18.
2. Anthony (20,700) needs nine points to pass George Gervin for 36th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
3. New Orleans is 5-4 in the second game of back-to-backs and is in line for its first back-to-back sweep of the season.