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Knicks improving despite losses

Dec 19, 2008 - 2:15 PM Milwaukee (11-16) at New York (11-14) 7:30 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks may have lost the last two games of their West Coast road trip, but they certainly appear to be headed in the right direction.

The Knicks look to bounce back on Friday when they return home for a meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks.

After throttling the Sacramento Kings, 114-90, in the opener of their three-game swing, New York dropped an eight-point decision to the Phoenix Suns.

Despite the loss, the Knicks rallied from a 17-point deficit against the Suns and forced coach Mike D'Antoni's former team to battle to the end for the win.

The Knicks followed that performance with one of their best games of the season.

While enduring yet another setback, New York held a 15-point halftime lead against the Western Conference-best Los Angeles Lakers, who needed a Trevor Ariza alley-oop layup and a pair of free throws by Derek Fisher in the final minute to claim a thrilling 116-114 victory on Tuesday.

Chris Duhon, who finished with 12 points and 11 assists, has noticed the Knicks progression this campaign.

"Early in the season, we probably would have gotten blown out especially when they made that run in the third quarter," Duhon said of his team, which saw its double-digit lead dwindle to three during the quarter. "We'd have probably hung our heads down and said, 'Here we go again.'

"We continued to compete and execute."

With a similar effort at home, New York should have little trouble against the Bucks, who have lost four of their last six games, including a 93-88 setback against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.