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76ers-Knicks Preview

Mar 18, 2010 - 7:59 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Philadelphia (24-44) at New York (24-44), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The New York Knicks have had little to celebrate, but beating the Philadelphia 76ers again would mean winning the season series for the first time in five years.

The Knicks look for a second win over the 76ers in five days when the Atlantic Division rivals meet at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

New York (24-44), assured of a franchise-record ninth consecutive losing season, and Philadelphia (24-44) are 10 games back of Toronto for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 14 games to play.

While the postseason is likely out of reach for both clubs, the Knicks may take some solace in winning a third consecutive meeting with the 76ers to take the season series for the first time since 2004-05.

They haven't won three in a row against Philadelphia since April 3-Dec. 17, 2004.

New York lost all four meetings last season and saw its skid in the series reach six with a 141-127 overtime defeat at MSG on Oct. 31.

The Knicks went on to take the last two in Philadelphia, winning 94-84 on Monday to hand the 76ers a fifth consecutive loss.

New York failed to build on that Wednesday, losing 109-97 to division-leading Boston to conclude a 2-3 road trip.

"There were a lot of toos out there," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They were too big, too quick, too good, and the road trip a little too long."

Philadelphia responded to Monday's defeat by ending its slide with a 108-97 win over league-worst New Jersey on Wednesday.

Another solid effort from Andre Iguodala, the team leader in scoring (17.0 points per game), assists (5.8) and rebounding (6.7), could help the 76ers to their third win in 13 games.

The swingman connected on 7 of 14 shots for 20 points while dishing out eight assists Wednesday. That performance came after Iguodala made 36.1 percent of his field goals to average 15.4 points during the losing streak.

"I was looking for my spots on the floor and where to attack and where to look for my open teammates," Iguodala said Wednesday. "I wanted to get to the basket whenever I could."

Iguodala has struggled from 3-point range over the last six games, hitting 1 of 22 attempts. He hasn't been much better in the last two meetings against the Knicks, missing all 13 shots from beyond the arc while averaging 9.0 points.

Iguodala, though, had a career-high 17 rebounds Monday and posted a season-high 32 points against the Knicks in October.

David Lee, New York's leader with career highs of 20.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, had 29 points, nine boards and seven assists Wednesday. The All-Star center managed just eight points while grabbing 16 rebounds Monday, ending his streak of scoring in double figures at 47 games.