Knicks hoping to avoid Atlantic cellar

New York enters the game 14-30 and just one game ahead of the equally abysmal Raptors for last place in the Atlantic Division.

The Knicks come into tonight’s tilt riding a three-game losing streak after getting routed by Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, 130-97, on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

Qyntel Woods scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Quentin Richardson contributed 14 points and Stephon Marbury added 12 points for New York, which was booed off the floor, as it lost for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

In the last four games he has played Woods is averaging 16.0 points with 8.8 boards and has led the team in scoring the last two games.

To make matters worse for the Knicks, they are expected to be without Marbury this evening because of a lingering shoulder injury. Also, center Eddy Curry is questionable with a rib contusion.

New York, which will host Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets in the start of a brief two-game homestand on Sunday, has dropped nine of 10 on the road and is a dismal 4-17 away from home this season.

The Knicks lost to Toronto earlier in the season and could be at a disadvantage tonight, as the road team in this series has won just two of the last 12 meetings. New York has also dropped 10 of their last 13 north of the border.