New York Knicks Team Report - February 11

(Basketball News) - The New York Knicks try to get back on the winning track this evening when they wrap up their brief two-game road trip against the New Orleans Hornets at New Orleans Arena in the last game for both teams prior to this weekend’s All-Star break.

The Knicks had their five-game winning streak stopped on Tuesday, as they found themselves on the wrong end of a 105-90 decision to the Dallas Mavericks.

Stephon Marbury paced New York with 24 points and 11 assists, while Keith Van Horn chipped in 20 points and nine boards. Shandon Anderson added 19 points for the Knicks, who fell for just the fourth time in 13 tries under new head coach Lenny Wilkens.

New York trailed by nine points early in the fourth quarter, but went on a 9-2 run, culminated by Marbury’s jumper, to close within 80-78 with 8:02 left.

The game remained tight, before Dirk Nowitzki converted a three-point play to ignite a 17-4 burst over a 4 1/2-minute span that staked Dallas to a commanding 104-88 advantage with 35.6 seconds remaining.

New York played most of the contest without Kurt Thomas, a Dallas native,who was ejected with 6:07 left in the second quarter after head-butting Mavs’ rookie Josh Howard.

The Knicks, who are 2-6 on the road against Central Division teams, have won four of six and seven of 10 on the road and are 10-15 away from home this season.

New York defeated New Orleans earlier in the season and has won two of the last three and seven of the last 13 overall matchups. However, the Knicks have lost two straight and four of their last five as the visitor in this series.