Knicks Hit New Low With Record Loss

As if a season of brutal basketball wasn’t bad enough for the New York Knicks, now they’re being humiliated, too.

In their most-lopsided home loss ever, the Knicks fell to the Charlotte Hornets, 111-68, Monday afternoon for their eighth consecutive defeat.

“It’s an embarrassment,” point guard Mark Jackson said.

By the end of the game, which saddled the Knicks with their longest losing streak in 15 seasons, several players on the bench had towels covering their heads.

Coach Don Chaney didn’t like what he saw.

“I thought they threw in the towel. I thought they gave up,” he said.

Latrell Sprewell was scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting and the Knicks were held to their lowest point total this season. The only other time Sprewell failed to score in his career was Nov. 9, 1995, when he missed seven shots while playing for Golden State against Atlanta.

“I don’t think we’re treating the job as seriously as we need to,” said Allan Houston, who scored 11 points on five-for-15 shooting.

“Our starters need to step up and make the right changes and hold ourselves accountable,” he said. “This was the worst we represented ourselves since I’ve been here.”

New York shot a season-worst 30%.

“I can’t tell you what it is but bad basketball,” Jackson said. “Top to bottom it’s just bad.”

The Knicks’ previous worst home defeat was a 132-93 rout by Milwaukee on April 10, 1987. New York had not dropped eight in a row since Dec. 5-20, 1986.

Baron Davis scored 24 points, leading six Hornets in double figures. Davis Wesley and Lee Nailon each scored 16 points. Elden Campbell had 13 points.

Kurt Thomas led the Knicks with 16 points.”We just couldn’t get it done out there today,” Thomas said. “It was the worst game I have ever been a part of.”