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Knicks aim to end six-game skid

Jan 5, 2008 - 1:37 PM New York (8-23) at Houston (16-17) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The slumping New York Knicks will try to avoid their seventh consecutive loss when they welcome in the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Despite getting 25 points and 12 rebounds from Eddy Curry, New York dropped a 97-93 road game against the defeating champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday.

"We competed from the start," Knicks guard Jamal Crawford said. "We played hard. We had several chances down the stretch. That's all you can ask - a chance to win."

New York should receive a huge boost to its starting lineup with the return of forward Zach Randolph, who missed Friday's game due to his one-game suspension for throwing his headband at a referee.

Yao Ming registered his 20th double-double with 26 points and 10 boards to help Houston snap a two-game slide in Friday's 96-94 victory at Orlando.

Rockets guard Rafer Alston has stepped up his offensive game over the past four outings. The New York playground star is averaging 19.5 points while shooting close to 50 percent during the stretch.

New York has dropped the last five meetings in the series against Houston, which owns a 7-6 record at the Toyota Center this season.