Charlotte @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 18, 2017 ) New York 91, Charlotte 109

The Charlotte Hornets will try to extend the New York Knicks' misery when the teams meet Saturday in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have lost nine straight after Thursday's 118-110 setback against Philadelphia, blowing a 13-point lead in the second half in their eight consecutive defeat at home.

"I gotta find out who wants, who can finish games for us," coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters. "Moving forward, it might be different guys. We're still trying to find that out for next year." New York has not lost 10 in a row since a 16-game skid in 2014-15 and likely won't end this one until it can figure out how to make some stops, as opponents are averaging 118.6 points during the losing streak. The Hornets had no issues on the offensive end in a 129-117 win at Atlanta on Thursday. Dwight Howard finished with 33 points and 12 rebounds and is averaging 26.8 and 9.6 over his last five games for Charlotte, which snapped a four-game road losing streak with the victory.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE HORNETS (30-39): Charlotte entered Friday with little chance for a playoff spot - trailing eighth-place Miami by six games - but the schedule offers up a tiny shred of hope. Beginning with the visit to Atlanta, the Hornets play eight of their final 14 contests against eight opponents who are at least 20 games below .500. Two of those games are against the reeling Knicks, who fell 109-91 at Charlotte in the previous meeting, with backup forward Frank Kaminsky torching New York for 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (24-45): New York still led by nine points with under 10 minutes remaining Thursday night before the Sixers poured it on, netting plenty of transition points on Knicks' misses. "I think in the fourth quarter we don't know how to close the games," center Enes Kanter told the media after recording 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. had been on a hot streak of late but was held to nine points on 3-of-13 shooting - including 1-of-8 from 3-point range - as New York fell to 7-31 over its last 38 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Knicks PF Michael Beasley scored 24 points Thursday and had 23 in the last matchup with the Hornets.

2. Charlotte PG Kemba Walker was 6-of-10 from 3-point range against Atlanta but missed all four of his attempts inside the arc.

3. New York took the last three meetings at home, including a 118-113 win Nov. 7.

PREDICTION: Hornets 115, Knicks 108