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Saturday, Dec. 17
7:30pm
TV: MSG, NBATV HighDef
Radio: 1050 ESPN
Preview:The New York Knicks hope to avoid their longest losing streak of the season when they host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
The Knicks are in the midst of a a five-game slide, matching the slump they suffered through during their 0-5 start. They have lost seven of their last eight games overall.
New York is coming off Friday's 122-111 loss in Atlanta in which it allowed the Hawks to shoot a league season-high 63 percent (43-of-62), including 12-of-16 from the arc.
Jamal Crawford scored 23 points and Stephon Marbury added 21 for the Knicks, who were without center Eddy Curry after the 7-footer sprained his ankle in practice Thursday. His status for Saturday's contest is uncertain.
Indiana has not let the controversy involving Ron Artest stop the club from winning three of its four games since the enigmatic forward requested to be traded.
The Pacers posted a 93-83 home win over Utah on Saturday behind the efforts of star Jermaine O'Neal, who collected 27 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.
Stephen Jackson and Austin Croshere each scored 16 points for Indiana, which held the Jazz to 4-for-19 (21 percent) shooting in the final period.
The Knicks and Pacers split their four meetings last season, with each team winning once on the other's court.
FINAL SCORE
Pacers - 102
Knicks - 96
Box Score
Knicks Drop Close One to Pacers
Recap:O'Neal scored 31 points as the Indiana Pacers escaped Madison Square Garden with a 102-96 victory over the struggling New York Knicks, who have dropped six straight games.
After Quentin Richardson's 3-pointer gave the Knicks a 94-91 lead with 3:29 to go, the Pacers responded with a closing 11-2 run which included solid execution on the offensive end and stops on the defensive end.
Pacers rookie Danny Granger rejected Stephon Marbury's layup, leading to two free throws by Jamaal Tinsley. O'Neal and Tinsley ran a perfect pick-and-roll, setting up O'Neal's two-handed tomahawk jam for a 95-94 lead with 1:56 left.
The Knicks trailed, 99-96, with 38 seconds to go, when Marbury lost control to Pacers rookie Sarunas Jasikevicius. At the other end, O'Neal found Austin Croshere cutting to the basket for a reverse layup and a five-point lead with 15 seconds remaining.
Granger scored 12 points and was a big spark in the fourth quarter, blocking three shots and hitting two 3-pointers and finishing with 12 points.
Tinsley had 23 points and seven assists and Jasikevicius scored 18 points, making four 3-pointers.
Marbury scored 25 points for the Knicks, who have lost four consecutive home games. Jamal Crawford added 15 off the bench and Richardson 12.
Indiana has won eight of the last 11 matchups with New York.
