Monday, Nov. 23, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) No matter how bleak things look for the Knicks, they can take comfort knowing worse basketball is being played 15 km away.

How low can you go: Nets center Brook Lopez and coach Lawrence Frank react to a foul call during their game against the New York Knicks on Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J. The Nets lost 98-91 to fall to 0-13. AP PHOTO

And if the Nets don't win soon, they could be the worst ever to start an NBA season.

Al Harrington and Danilo Gallinari each scored 17 points, and New York dropped New Jersey to 0-13 with a 98-91 victory Saturday.

The Nets inched closer to the NBA record of 17 straight losses to start a season, held by Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers. They'll try to avoid it during a difficult four-game trip out West that starts with back-to-back games at Denver and Portland, capped by a visit to the Lakers.

"I've never been in a situation like this," Nets guard Chris Douglas-Roberts said. "I really can't describe the feeling I have right now. I take every loss very hard, but this many losses without a win, I really don't know what to feel. I don't know where I'm at right now. Mentally, it's tough."

David Lee added 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Wilson Chandler and Larry Hughes each finished with 13 points for the Knicks, who have won two straight after a 1-9 start that was the worst in franchise history and avoided what would have been another low point.

"We didn't want to be that team, obviously with them being a team that's right across the river," Harrington said. "We were really focusing and not having a letdown. Hopefully we can grow from here."

Douglas-Roberts scored 24 points and Brook Lopez had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who barely broke 90 points against one of the NBA's worst defensive teams.

Cavaliers 97, 76ers 91

In Cleveland, LeBron James scored 32 points, Mo Williams added 18 and the Cavaliers clamped down defensively in the fourth quarter, holding Philadelphia to 10 points over the final 12 minutes.

Jazz 100, Pistons 97 (OT)

In Salt City City, Carlos Boozer scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and overtime to lead Utah to its fourth straight victory.

Spurs 106, Wizards 84

In San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 17 points, and Tim Duncan had 16 points and nine rebounds to help snap a three-game losing streak.

Hornets 96, Hawks 88

In New Orleans, rookie Darren Collison had 22 points and 11 assists for his first double-double, and the Hornets won their third straight.

Nuggets 112, Bulls 93

In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points and Chauncey Billups had 21, leading Denver to its 15th straight regular-season home victory.

Bucks 103, Grizzlies 98

In Memphis, rookie Brandon Jennings scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half.

Rockets 113, Kings 106

In Houston, Luis Scola scored 22 points and grabbed key rebounds in the final minutes, and the Rockets held off Sacramento.

Trail Blazers 106, T'wolves 78

In Portland, Martell Webster had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Brandon Roy added 18 points, and the Trail Blazers handed Minnesota its 12th straight loss.

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