Final
  for this game

Knicks-Nets Preview

Jan 13, 2016 - 6:05 AM The New York Knicks haven't owned a winning record in almost two months. Getting there might require overcoming Carmelo Anthony's absence.

While Anthony's status is unknown, the Knicks look to continue their surge and send the Brooklyn Nets to an 11th straight home loss Wednesday night.

New York (20-20) has followed a four-game slide by winning six of eight. The Knicks have a chance to move above .500 for the first time since they were 8-7 following a loss at Miami on Nov. 23.

They may have to do it without Anthony, who suffered a sprained right ankle when he ran into a referee heading up the floor before halftime of Tuesday's 120-114 win over Boston. He left 19 seconds into the third quarter and X-rays were negative.

New York also won despite Kristaps Porzingis, who finished with 26 points, fouling out in the fourth quarter.

"There's turning points in seasons, and I think this is a good turning point for us," said forward Derrick Williams, who had 15 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. "When KP fouls out and Melo got injured, things like that happen. It's a team effort, and it gives those guys confidence in us that we can pull out games even when they're not on the court."

That confidence will be vital if Anthony is out. He leads the team with 21.6 points per game and had 28 in a 108-91 home win over the Nets on Dec. 4 after the Knicks lost all four matchups last season.

Porzingis contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. The rookie forward is averaging 23.0 points on 52.0 percent from the floor - 8 for 21 from beyond the arc - over the last three games.

The Knicks have split six visits to Brooklyn, losing the last two after falling 92-88 on Feb. 6. However, they should like their chances this time since the Nets (10-28) have lost 10 straight for their longest slide at Barclays Center.

It's also the second-longest in franchise history. They dropped 14 in a row in New Jersey from Jan. 29-March 22, 2010.

The current losing streak was in no danger of ending Monday when the Nets were thumped 106-79 by San Antonio, one day after the firings of general manager Billy King and coach Lionel Hollins.

"We ran into a sledgehammer of a team," interim coach Tony Brown said. "They definitely know how to play together and that's something we're going to strive and try to do here."

Brook Lopez was again a bright spot, averaging a team-high 19.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. He led the way with 18 points against the Spurs, while the rest of the starters combined for 35.

The center has averaged 23.0 points on 55.4 percent shooting over his last five home meetings with New York. He scored 22 while adding nine rebounds and six blocks off the bench Feb. 6.

Brown may opt to start Wayne Ellington and Donald Sloan in the back court again, but they combined for 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting Monday. Sloan got the nod ahead of Shane Larkin, who started the previous four games after Jarrett Jack was lost for the season with a torn ACL.