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Slumping Knicks return home to face Pelicans

Dec 1, 2013 - 3:14 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The slumping New York Knicks are back at Madison Square Garden, but that hasn't exactly been a good thing this season.

Since their season-opening win over Milwaukee at historic MSG, the Knicks have lost six in a row on their home floor. They are back in the Big Apple following a winless four-game road trip and have dropped eight straight overall for the first time since February 2010.

The last time the Knicks suffered nine straight defeats was during a 10-game collapse from Jan. 28 - Feb. 13, 2006.

New York dropped a 97-95 decision in Denver on Friday and Carmelo Anthony's jumper at the buzzer was defended by Nuggets guard Randy Foye.

"Much respect to Carmelo, but at the end of the game, I realize we're fighting for our lives," Foye told NBA.com. "I'm just saying to myself, 'I'm going to make him take a tough shot, no matter what.' If he makes it over me with a hand up, I can live with it. But I can't live with giving him an easy shot, just because he's Carmelo."

Anthony, who spent his first 7 1/2 seasons with Denver and is second in the NBA with 26.5 ppg, scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down seven rebounds. He is the only player in the NBA who has led his team in scoring in every game this season.

"I didn't get it done, that's it," Anthony said afterward. "My teammates did a great job of getting us in that position, putting us in that position, giving me the chance of tying the game or going for the win. I didn't come through. I'll take that."

Andrea Bargnani added 22 points in the loss and Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith finished with 11 points apiece for the Knicks, who fell to 3-12 on the season and haven't won since Nov. 13 at Atlanta.

New Orleans ended a two-game slide in Jrue Holiday's return to Philadelphia on Friday, as the former Sixer finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

"It's always good to get a win on the road in this league. Coming here tonight against the Sixers was nice. But truthfully, I'm just happy to get the win," said Holiday.

Eric Gordon led the Pelicans with 26 points and Anthony Davis compiled 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Ryan Anderson and Tyreke Evans scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, for a New Orleans team that won for the fourth time in six tries and opened a three-game road trip on a positive note.

The Pelicans are 2-5 outside the Big Easy and will wrap up the trek Monday against the Chicago Bulls.

New Orleans and New York are meeting for the first time since the Knicks took both matchups a season ago. The Knicks are 8-1 in the past nine games in this series.