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Struggling Knicks head to The Palace

Mar 3, 2014 - 2:46 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The tailspin that is the New York Knicks will be on display Monday night in a road matchup with the Detroit Pistons.

The Knicks are mired in a six-game losing streak and have a 2-12 record since the beginning of February. They lost their first game of March, a 109-90 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls in the opener of a three-game trip.

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points to lead the visitors and both Amare Stoudemire and Tim Hardaway, Jr. netted 14 points for New York. Tyson Chandler grabbed 22 rebounds to go with eight points and three blocks.

Chicago stormed out to a 37-16 lead after the first quarter, then the Knicks responded with a 32-22 edge in the second stanza. The game was tight from there, but the Bulls' first-quarter surge was enough to make a difference.

"You can't play the game like a light switch, or you get buried," said Knicks guard J.R. Smith of the slow start. "We've got to come out with it already on."

Smith had 13 points for the Knicks, who shot 44.3 percent and connected on just 5-of-18 3-pointers.

New York has lost four straight and nine of 10 road games, and has a 9-19 ledger away from Madison Square Garden. It will close the trip Wednesday against Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Meanwhile, Anthony is posting an average of 32.2 points in his last 18 games and is second in the NBA in scoring with 28.0 ppg. Anthony is averaging 29.5 points in two meetings (1-1) with Detroit this season.

The Knicks haven't lost a season series to the Pistons since 2006-07 (1-2) and are 13-3 in the last 16 meetings between the teams.

Detroit will play two straight at The Palace of Auburn Hills against New York and Chicago, and has lost two straight and four of the past five as the host.

The Pistons were swept in their recent journey through the Lone Star State, losing games at San Antonio and Houston. In Saturday's 118-110 setback to the Rockets, the hosts stormed their way to a 41-20 lead after 12 minutes of play and fended off a determined Detroit squad.

Houston's lead was cut to 114-107 with less than two minutes to go in the game and the Pistons suffered their seventh consecutive road loss. Rodney Stuckey led the way with 23 points, Josh Smith scored 21 and Andre Drummond battled Dwight Howard to the tune of 16 points and 17 rebounds. Howard had 17 points and eight rebounds.

Detroit shot 55.6 percent in the last two quarters and has lost four in a row and seven of the past eight games.

"There's two halves to a game and fortunately we played better in the second half," said Pistons interim coach John Loyer.

The Pistons will put their 13-19 home record to the test and are allowing 103.7 ppg this season, which is 26th in the NBA.