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Knicks begin favorable schedule vs. 76ers

Mar 10, 2014 - 3:02 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Losing has become quite the norm for the Philadelphia 76ers and they'll try to stop a 16-game slide Monday against the rival New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Sixers haven't won since a buzzer-beating triumph at Boston on Jan. 29, when they last prevailed on the road. Philadelphia is mired in a seven-game road losing streak and has a 7-23 record as the visitor. It hasn't posted a winning road mark since going 23-18 in 2002-03.

Philadelphia is coming off Saturday's 104-92 home loss to the Utah Jazz and is winless in the past 13 games at Wells Fargo Center. It actually held a 52-50 lead at halftime, but the Jazz recorded a 54-40 advantage in the final 24 minutes to send the Sixers to a 3-26 mark since a season-best four-game win streak from Dec. 29-Jan. 4.

Tony Wroten provided a spark off the Philly bench with a career-high 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting and Thaddeus Young followed with 18 points. James Anderson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 16 points and rookie Michael Carter-Williams ended with just four points to go with nine assists, seven rebounds and five steals for the 76ers, who shot 47.4 percent and committed 19 turnovers.

The Sixers have the worst defense in the league and forced Utah into making 20 turnovers, leading to 26 points. It still wasn't enough to stop the drought.

"It was a good game we played," said Wroten. "We felt like we could have came out with that one, but we let it slip away."

Philadelphia, which is 11-44 when allowing 100-plus points and last in the NBA in opponents' scoring (110.9), will start a three-game homestand Wednesday versus Sacramento, Indiana and Memphis.

Meanwhile, the Knicks have ripped off three straight wins since a seven-game slide and posted a 107-97 victory at Cleveland on Saturday behind another solid effort from Carmelo Anthony. Anthony scored 26 points and Amare Stoudemire ended with 17 and 12 rebounds.

Tyson Chandler had another double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, and has posted 10 or more points and rebounds in three straight and seven of 10 games. He is averaging 12.3 points and 15.0 rebounds in that stretch for the Knicks, who will try to match a four-game win streak from Jan. 24-30.

The Knicks are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference and sit just 3 1/2 games off a postseason berth with 18 to play.

"We've been trying to figure out the chemistry on both ends of the court all along, but it's better late than never," Stoudemire said.

New York is 13-20 at home and will visit Boston on Wednesday. It has Milwaukee, Philadelphia again, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento on the upcoming docket with Indiana mixed in between.

The team has reportedly offered legendary coach Phil Jackson a front office position and is waiting for a response from the Zen Master. Jackson played for the Knicks and won 11 titles as head coach of the Bulls and Lakers.

New York and Philadelphia have split two meetings this season and will close the series March 21 in south Philly. The Knicks have won eight of the last 11 matchups between the Atlantic rivals.