Knicks-Pelicans Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN

(AP) -- After yet another close call, Amar'e Stoudemire believes the woeful New York Knicks are getting closer to turning things around.

The Knicks try to avoid matching their longest losing streak from last season as they go for a sixth consecutive road win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.

New York (4-18) has averaged just 90.8 points during an eight-game skid after falling 103-99 to Portland on Sunday. Carmelo Anthony had 23 points and 10 rebounds and J.R. Smith scored 20, but the Knicks were outscored 8-2 over the final 3:19 after erasing an 11-point deficit earlier in the fourth quarter.

"We're learning, we're almost there. I see guys really putting forth the effort," Stoudemire said. "We're still somewhat trying to mentally get it done, which is a positive. At this point the record is what it is, we can't dwell on that. We have to continue to try and improve. ... We're right there, we just have to keep pushing."

The Knicks also came up just short in their previous two games, 90-87 to Cleveland on Thursday and 103-102 at Charlotte on Friday. Thirteen of their 18 losses have come by less than eight points, and they are 1-7 in games decided by four points or fewer.

"Losing games as close as we are losing them, whether it's five or six points ... this is new to me." Anthony said. "But, we're not going to stop and I'm not going to stop. The easy thing to do is to stop right now, hang your heads, and nobody is going to feel sorry for us so we've got to keep on going."

New York won 95-90 at Cleveland on Oct. 30 before losing its next nine road games, it's longest such skid since dropping 12 straight away from home Jan. 15-March 1, 2006.

However, the Knicks have thrived in New Orleans, where they've five in a row by an average of 12.0 points. Anthony went off for 42 during New York's last visit, a 98-91 victory Feb. 19.

Anthony is averaging 31.8 points on 53.7 percent shooting in his last four road games against the Pelicans. His lifetime average of 28.0 in New Orleans is tied for his third-highest mark against any team on the road.

The Pelicans (9-10) return home after closing a 1-2 trek with Sunday's 104-87 win over the Lakers. Anthony Davis had 23 points while Jrue Holiday added 22 and eight assists.

New Orleans recorded 28 assists and shot 51.8 percent for its highest mark in 11 games.

"This is a test for us to see if we can continue to play like this," coach Monty Williams said. "I told the guys after the game, we've had a 2-2 West Coast trip and we're 1-2 on this one. If we start to grow as a team, in the future we'll be 3-0 or 4-0. We'll be a team who can contend with anyone."

Davis has been limited to an average of 13.5 points in his only two full games against New York, both defeats. He played just 10 minutes before exiting with an injury in a 103-99 road win Dec. 1, 2013.

The Pelicans are averaging 107.7 points at home to rank among the league leaders. They've gone 13-3 in their last 16 home games against Eastern Conference foes.

Knicks backup center Jason Smith is set to make his first trip back to New Orleans after spending the previous four seasons there.