Knicks target back-to-back wins in Philadelphia

(Basketball News) - The New York Knicks try to win back-to-back games this evening when they open a brief two-game road trip against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.

On Friday, Eddy Curry had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Crawford had 21 points as New York held on for a 97-94 victory against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden.

Channing Frye added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, who ended a six-game losing streak after nearly blowing a 25-point second-half lead and a 20-point fourth-quarter advantage.

Orlando got within two points, 93-91, on a Steve Francis dunk with 17 seconds left, but the Knicks hit five of their six free throws in the waning seconds to secure the game.

Curry’s double-double was his second in a row and one tonight would give him three straight for the first time in his career.

New York, which will end the short trip in Atlanta on Monday, is a dismal 4-15 away from home this season.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, comes in on a losing note after falling to the Magic in overtime, 119-115, on Thursday.

Allen Iverson finished with 38 points and 15 assists, while Chris Webber posted 32 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Sixers, who had a three-game winning streak stopped.

Andre Iguodala scored 11 points, and Samuel Dalembert added 10 in the loss, as Philadelphia allowed 100 or more points for the 27th time this season, going 9-18 in those contests.

Iverson, who is averaging 25.7 points in 33 lifetime games against the Knicks, has tallied five straight 30-point games and is averaging 36.8 points and 8.2 assists while shooting 45.9 percent in that span.

The Sixers, who will be closing a three-game homestand tonight, are 14-8 in their building this season.

New York topped Philadelphia earlier in the season and has won two straight and five of the last six meetings. The Knicks have also won three of their last five in the City of Brotherly Love.