Knicks lose ninth time in 10 games

Jan 29, 2012, 4:53 GMT

Los Angeles - The reeling New York Knicks lost for the ninth time in 10 games Saturday night as they shot just 38 percent from the field in a 97-84 loss to the host Houston Rockets.

Playing without injured leading scorer Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks (7-13) were held below 90 points for the 10th time this season. They were considered a championship contender at the start of the season but currently would not qualify for the playoffs.

New York was playing for the fourth time in five nights and appeared to run out of energy in the second half. Houston used an 11-0 run late in the third quarter to open a 75-58 lead.

Chase Budinger scored 19 points and fellow reserve Goran Dragic of Slovenia added 16 for the Rockets (12-8), who got 61 points from their bench and won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Milwaukee 100, LA Lakers 89 =

The shorthanded Bucks took care of the visiting Lakers as Drew Gooden scored 23 points. Milwaukee played without injured Australian center Andrew Bogut and suspended guard Stephen Jackson. Kobe Bryant scored 27 points for the Lakers, who fell to 1-7 on the road.

Philadelphia 95, Detroit 74 =

Andre Iguodala had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth career triple-double as the 76ers improved to 10-2 at home with a rout of the Pistons, who have dropped four in a row.

Elsewhere, the visiting Washington Wizards edged the Charlotte Bobcats, 102-99; the host Utah Jazz held off the Sacramento Kings, 96-93; and the Phoenix Suns trimmed the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, 86-84.