Knicks hope to end skid in Big Easy

(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Knicks haven't prevailed on the road since spoiling LeBron James' homecoming in Cleveland on Oct. 30.

The Knicks have lost nine in a row on the road and will play their next three games away from home, starting with Tuesday's matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

New York is only 4-18 overall, only two games better than the NBA-worst Philadelphia 76ers, and will also make stops in San Antonio and Boston. The Knicks suffered their eighth straight loss Sunday versus the Portland Trail Blazers, 103-99, and were led by Carmelo Anthony's 23 points and 10 rebounds.

It was Anthony's first double-double of the season and he's sixth in the NBA in scoring with 23.2 points per game.

J.R. Smith scored 20 points off the bench and Amare Stoudemire ended with 16 and 10 rebounds. Iman Shumpert had 11 points and the Knicks made 51.9 percent from the field (5-of-19 from 3-point range). New York had a 97-95 lead with 3 1/2 minutes left on Anthony's layup, then the Blazers closed the game on an 8-2 run.

"There's a level of attention to detail that we're still below in order to win these games," said Knicks head coach Derek Fisher. "We're obviously doing enough to be in the game and have a chance to win."

Seven of New York's eight consecutive losses have been by seven points or less. The Knicks are 0-5 on the first game of a back-to-back.

The Pelicans went 1-2 on a recent road trip and won for the second time in seven tries with Sunday's 104-87 triumph over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.

Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, with Davis pulling down six rebounds with two blocks. Ryan Anderson and Tyreke Evans scored 11 points apiece and Omer Asik collected eight points and 11 boards for New Orleans, which limited Bryant to 14 points and shot 51.8 percent.

The Pelicans, who never trailed after a 9-7 lead early on, survived with 16 turnovers and held the Lakers under 20 points in both the first and third quarters. New Orleans also had a 50-34 rebounding advantage.

"We played a great team game," said Pelicans head coach Monty Williams. "Can't say enough about our ball movement. This is a great win for our team."

New Orleans is 5-2 at home and will play the first of two meetings with the Knicks this season. The Knicks will host the Pelicans at MSG on Jan. 19 and split two meetings last season with each team winning on the road.

The Knicks have won nine of the last 11 games in this series and five straight trips to the Big Easy.