Philadelphia @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 13, 2019 ) Philadelphia 108, New York 105

The New York Knicks attempt to halt their franchise-worst 17-game losing streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. New York has dropped 30 of its last 32 games and also is winless in three contests against the 76ers this season.

The timing could be right for the Knicks to pull off a stunner as Philadelphia dropped an intense 112-109 home decision against Eastern Conference-rival Boston on Tuesday with the All-Star break looming. The 76ers have lost three of five games this month and have allowed an average of 115.2 points. New York missed an opportunity to end its slide against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday as it recovered from a 17-point, second-half deficit before succumbing 107-104. "Every night we're going to go out and just play hard," rookie forward Kevin Knox told reporters after the loss. "We're going to compete at the highest level. We might make some mistakes toward the end of the game which costs us the loss. We're in a lot of close games with a lot of great teams, playoff teams. That just shows you how close we are from winning those games. We're just missing a couple of pieces."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE 76ERS (36-21): Center Joel Embiid had 23 points and 14 rebounds against Boston for his ninth straight double-double of the season and 47th of the season but was hardly impressed with his 9-of-22 shooting performance. "It's frustrating (to lose to Boston)," Embiid told reporters afterward. "I was sleepwalking for three quarters. That's on me." Swingman Jimmy Butler has scored 20 or more points in four of the past seven games after having 22 points and nine rebounds against the Celtics.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (10-46): There is a lot of chatter that the losing is part of a "tanking" strategy in hopes of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft to select Duke star Zion Williamson. Coach David Fizdale bristles at the notion - "that's just not in our vocabulary," Fizdale told reporters - and insists the team is giving its best effort every night. "I don't read it and listen to it, so I don't get caught up in it," Fizdale said. "I just think there's a difference between losing games and trying to lose games. That's why I think a lot of people have cracked down on just the idea of, you're just coming in to try to lose a game. You're cheating the game. I won't let our players do that."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The 76ers posted a 108-105 win in New York on Jan. 13 after recording home wins of 26 and 22 points earlier this season.

2. Knicks G Kadeem Allen scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting Monday.

3. Philadelphia F Tobias Harris had 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting against Boston and is averaging 15.3 points in three games since being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers.

PREDICTION: 76ers 121, Knicks 110