Knicks fall to Bobcats, sixth loss in row

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Any notion that the Knicks are backing into the playoffs should be dismissed. This team seems to be driving full steam ahead for the lottery.

The Knicks lost their sixth straight game Saturday night, falling to the Charlotte Bobcats, 114-106. Instead of moving closer to clinching a playoff berth, in the past two days, the reeling Knicks gave two teams on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff race -- the Bobcats and Bucks -- reason to believe they're still very much alive.

"It's a little bit embarrassing," said Carmelo Anthony, who had 36 points to lead the Knicks (35-38). "For the most part, it's teams that we should be beating when I sit back and think about that and we talk about that amongst each other. Some of these teams shouldn't even be on the court with us."

These teams think they should be in the playoffs instead of the Knicks, who have lost nine of 10 and are 7-12 since the trade. But despite the tailspin, Anthony said he isn't worried about missing the playoffs for the first time.

"At this point, no, not at all, I'm not too concerned about that," he said. "We've got to win a couple of games. The playoffs will be there. I'm just worried about everybody getting on the same page before that playoff run starts."

Amar'e Stoudemire, who struggled again (14 points, six rebounds, four blocks), had more urgency in his voice. "Time,'' he said, "is of the essence."

There wasn't much urgency on the court, however, as the Knicks, looking lost and dispirited on defense, once again spotted an inferior opponent a large lead that proved too much to overcome. They trailed by double-figures -- as many as 20 points early in the third quarter -- for most of the game until Anthony shot the Knicks back into it with back-to-back three-pointers. The second one cut the Bobcats' lead to 100-95 with 6:04 left, the closest the Knicks had been since early in the second.

But it wouldn't get any closer than four points -- 110-106 after a free throw by Landry Fields with 1:34 left.

"We got back in the game like we always do," said Chauncey Billups, who had 14 points and 10 assists and missed a three-pointer with 1:07 left that could have cut the deficit to two. "When it was time to fight, we started to fight. We just make it too hard on ourselves at the end."

Boris Diaw scored 20 points and Stephen Jackson had 19 as eight Bobcats scored in double figures. Charlotte's bench was especially strong in the second quarter, outhustling the Knicks in a 24-4 run that gave the Bobcats a 52-35 lead with 6:28 left in the half. The Bobcats (30-42) outrebounded the Knicks 13-4 in that half and had more offensive rebounds (five) than the Knicks had total rebounds.

Mike D'Antoni started Toney Douglas at point guard and Billups at shooting guard.

The result? Douglas went on an early -- and unsuccessful -- shooting spree and was yanked in the second quarter because of poor defense. He looked a step slow against speedy D.J. Augustin (13 points, nine assists).

Fields, moved to the bench for the first time, responded with 17 points. He scored 12 in the second half, which, it should be noted, he started.