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Knicks aim to stop slide versus Bobcats

Jan 24, 2014 - 2:54 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Knicks have dropped five in a row and will try to right the ship Friday night when they host the Charlotte Bobcats at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have dropped the first three games on an eight-game homestand, which is their longest since the Knicks went 4-4 back in December of 1986. They still have the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat on this stay.

The Knicks are a disappointing 7-15 on their home court this season.

"We definitely wasted some games we definitely should've won on our homecourt," said Carmelo Anthony. "This should be the time when we gain some momentum, gain some confidence.

"We are where we are. Keep fighting."

The fight will have to come without starting power-forward Andrea Bargnani. He tore a ligament in his left elbow and will be out indefinitely, joining Amare Stoudemire (ankle), Kenyon Martin (ankle) and Metta World Peace (knee) on the shelf.

On Wednesday, Evan Turner led a charge of Philadelphia 76ers to a 110-106 victory over the Knicks. New York had a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, but coughed it all up.

Anthony, who was voted a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team, paced New York with 28 points and Andrea Bargnani netted 20 in defeat. Iman Shumpert added 19 points with eight rebounds, while Tyson Chandler posted a double-double of 10 points and 14 boards.

The Bobcats head into Friday's affair the winners of two straight and three of their last four. After starting a quick homestand with a loss to the Heat, Charlotte bounced back with victories over the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers.

On Wednesday, Al Jefferson had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Bobcats defeated the Clippers, 95-91, at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Josh McRoberts tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Gerald Henderson added 13 points and seven boards for the Bobcats, who have one more home game Saturday night against the Bulls, then a four-game western trip.

"It was defense. We got stops, we got rebounds when we needed to," Jefferson said.

Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker missed his second straight game due to a left ankle sprain. New starter Ramon Sessions finished with 10 points and backup Jannero Pargo managed 11.

The 91 points allowed on Wednesday was the fewest for the Bobcats in their 12 games of 2014.

Charlotte has won two of three meetings with the Knicks this season, including a stop at MSG on Nov. 5. The Knicks have taken 10 of the last 15 against the Bobcats and five of the last seven in New York.