New York Knicks Team Report - March 27

(Basketball News) - The New York Knicks try to move up the Eastern Conference ladder this evening when they head to the Motor City to tangle with the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

On Friday, Stephon Marbury scored 38 points and dished out nine assists to lead the short-handed Knicks to a 108-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. DerMarr Johnson added 15 points for New York, which has won five of its last seven games.

Kurt Thomas had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Knicks, who remained in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race 1 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Celtics.

The Knicks were without forwards Tim Thomas (groin) and Anfernee Hardaway (groin), while guard Allan Houston played just eight minutes because of a quadriceps injury. All three players are expected to miss tonight’s contest as well.

New York, which improved to 14-1 when reaching 100 points this season, has won three of its last five on the road and is 13-22 away from home this season.

New York has dropped two of three to the Pistons this season and has lost three of five and seven of the last 11 matchups. The Knicks have also struggled in Motown, where they have dropped three straight and five of their last six.