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Knicks limp into Houston to face Rockets

Jan 28, 2012 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - A Carmelo Anthony-less New York team limps into South Texas on Saturday to face off with the red-hot Houston Rockets.

The Knicks lost for the eighth time in nine games and fell to 1-2 on a four- game road trip Saturday in Miami when Dwyane Wade sparkled in his return to the lineup, scoring 28 points, as the Heat withstood a bevy of three-pointers from New York to earn a 99-89 victory over the Knicks.

With Anthony sidelined because of thumb, wrist and ankle issues, the Knicks tried to beat the Heat with the long distance shot. They were on target, going 18-of-43 from beyond the arc, but were just 12-of-41 on two- point attempts.

Bill Walker was the offensive catalyst, going 7-of-10 from long distance for a 21-point night, but New York was outscored 42-14 in the paint en route to the loss.

"I'm glad for him because we need him and he's got to keep improving," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said of Walker. "He needs to keep working out his body. He could be the outside guy once we get Carmelo back and give us some more scoring."

Amare Stoudemire, who had 12 points in the game, was 0-for-4 from the field in the first quarter, part of a 2-for-14 effort from inside the arc in the stanza for New York.

"They were keying in on him, but other guys were open," D'Antoni said. "That's why they were shooting a lot of shots. He was great because he was just playing the game. He didn't force anything."

Toney Douglas scored 16 and Landry Fields 14 for the Knicks, who also got 12 rebounds from Tyson Chandler.

Anthony will remain on the sidelines tonight and will be reevaluated from there.

The Rockets, meanwhile, bounced back from their first loss in two weeks to trounce Washington on Friday, 103-76, despite playing without leading scorer Kevin Martin (plantar fasciitis right foot).

Chase Budinger, playing for the first time in four games, scored 21 points and pulled down eight rebounds as the Rockets used a strong second-half performance to take down the Wizards. Luis Scola added 19 points and eight rebounds for Houston, which has won eight of its last nine games.

"Chase made shots for us tonight, played wonderful defense, really moved his feet well, rebounded the ball, just played really well," Rockets head coach Kevin McHale said.

Martin, who traditionally dominates New York scoring 28.1 ppg in his last seven outings against the Knicks, is questionable for tonight's contest.

Houston has won four straight vs. New York overall, sweeping the home-and-home series over the past two seasons.