Knicks becoming a complete embarrassment

Houston defeated the Knicks last Sunday and has won four of the last five and seven of the last 11 meetings. The Knicks have also lost three of five and five of their last eight in Houston.

New York’s miserable season continued on Friday, as it was upended by the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 111-100, at the Ford Center. Jalen Rose had 20 points and Quentin Richardson tallied 14 for the Knicks, who had seven players score in double figures

Jackie Butler and Jamal Crawford each had 13 points and Maurice Taylor and Channing Frye tallied 12 apiece for New York, which has dropped 14 of 15 overall.

Eddy Curry rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points.

New York, which last lost nine in a row from March 25-April 8 of last season, lost a team-record 12 in a row from March 23-April 13, 1985.

The Knicks continue to play without star guard Stephon Marbury, who missed his fifth straight game with a shoulder injury. Marbury, who will be shelved until after the All-Star break, has missed eight games in all with the injury and the team has yet to win without him.

New York, which will close its trip in Dallas on Monday, has dropped seven in a row on the road and is a miserable 4-20 away from home this season.