Knicks at Suns
The New York Knicks are sliding out of playoff contention with 14 setbacks in their past 18 games as they conclude a seven-game road trip with a visit to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. New York is 2-4 on its lengthy excursion after suffering a 130-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
The Knicks are looking to complete a two-season sweep of the Suns as New York power forward Kristaps Porzingis (37 points) outdueled Phoenix shooting guard Devin Booker (34) in a 120-107 home win Nov. 3. Porzingis had 21 points and seven rebounds before fouling out against the Nuggets after missing Tuesday's game against the Golden State Warriors because of an ailing knee. The Suns have dropped seven of their last nine games to fall a season-worst 14 games below .500 and trailed by as many as 38 points during Wednesday's 116-101 road loss to the Indiana Pacers. "This was an embarrassing game," Booker told reporters. "I'm not sure how many transition points they had, I'm sure it was a lot. A lot more than we had."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FS Arizona
ABOUT THE KNICKS (21-28): New York stands a season-worst seven games below .500 and is dealing with dissension as disappointing center Joakim Noah left the team for at least two games because of what the team termed "personal reasons." "We’re not going to comment on that stuff," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters despite heavy speculation Noah was peeved at playing just five minutes Tuesday in only his second playing stint of the month. "Personal reasons. He won’t be with us the next couple of games." Noah is in the second season of a four-year, $72 million contract and has played in only seven games this season after averaging five points in 46 games last season - a campaign that included a 20-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
ABOUT THE SUNS (17-31): Troy Daniels is carving himself a role as Booker's backup and he is a stellar 21-of-38 from 3-point range over the past five games, making five or more three times during the stretch. Daniels has already made 111 3-pointers this season and has set a franchise record by making at least one off the bench in 28 consecutive games. "We put him in the game a lot of times just to give Booker rest, but he's also a scoring punch for us," Phoenix interim coach Jay Triano told reporters. "That's why he continues to stay in the game even when we brought Book back."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Suns have won 10 of their past 13 home meetings against the Knicks.
2. Booker has made 49 consecutive free throws, eight shy of the franchise's single-season mark shared by Kevin Johnson and Mike Bratz.
3. New York backup PG Trey Burke had season-bests of 18 points and 11 assists Thursday in his fifth appearance since joining the club.