LEAD: Lifeless Knicks rocked by Rockets for ninth loss in 10 games

By Chris Bernucca Jan 29, 2012, 6:08 GMT

Los Angeles - The New York Knicks have fallen and they can't get up.

The reeling Knicks lost for the ninth time in 10 games Saturday night, shooting 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.

'We're just playing awful,' said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, who called his team a contender prior to the season. 'We just can't make a shot. It's just not good.'

'I'm just as baffled as you are,' said Knicks center Tyson Chandler, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds but didn't get much help. 'Everybody needs to man up. We all need to take a look at ourselves and see what we need to do to help the team.'

Star forward Amar'e Stoudemire suggested that the players are not preparing properly for games.

'We've got to start reading the board before games,' he said. 'We have to prepare ourselves better. We have to be ready to execute that game plan.'

Playing for the fourth time in five nights, New York led after one quarter and still was within six points late in the third period before it appeared to run out of energy as both teams went to their reserves.

D'Antoni removed Stoudemire and inserted Mike Bibby, Jared Jeffries and little-used Jeremy Lin. Over the next four minutes, the Knicks missed three shots and committed four turnovers.

Meanwhile, Houston's subs fueled an 11-0 burst capped by a three-pointer by Courtney Lee that opened a 75-58 advantage. New York got no closer than 12 points thereafter.

D'Antoni was hoping 'maybe someone could come in and catch a little spark, but it didn't happen. Their bench killed us.'

Lee normally comes off the bench but started in place of injured leading scorer Kevin Martin and had 14 points and four steals. Houston's reserves scored 61 points.

'They gave us a big lift,' Lee said. 'They picked the tempo up on the defensive end and the offensive end.'

Chase Budinger scored 19 points, Goran Dragic of Slovenia added 16 and Jordan Hill 14 with 11 rebounds for the Rockets (12-8), who won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Stoudemire scored 23 points, rookie Iman Shumpert added 11 and Lin had nine and six assists for the Knicks, who made just 5-of-26 shots from the arc. They will try to end their slide vs. Detroit on Tuesday.

'It's not a great feeling right now,' Stoudemire said.

Milwaukee 100, LA Lakers 89 =

Drew Gooden scored 23 points for the shorthanded Bucks, who 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.

Utah 96, Sacramento 93 =

Gordon Hayward scored 21 points for the host Jazz, who stopped a two-game slide. Tyreke Evans had 31 points and nine assists for the Kings, who have lost four in a row.

Phoenix 86, Memphis 84 =

Jared Dudley scored 20 points, including the game-winning free throws with 3.3 seconds left, as the Suns ended a three-game skid. Spain's Marc Gasol had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost three straight.

Washington 102, Charlotte 99 =

JaVale McGee collected 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as the visiting Wizards beat the Bobcats for the second time in four days. Rookie Kemba Walker had his first career triple-double with 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for league-worst Charlotte (3-18), which has lost eight straight.