LOSING THEIR BUZZ
KNICKS SLEEPWALK THROUGH UGLY LOSS TO HORNETS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Call it the Carmelo Hangover.
Two days after embarrassing Carmelo Anthony in a stirring win at the Garden, the Knicks spent their next game looking like they missed him.
It was a rare night of complete ineptitude for Jeff Hornacek’s squad on both ends, though that has become their custom on the road.
With Tim Hardaway Jr. still out and Kristaps Porzingis nursing a knee injury, the undermanned Knicks played like zombies as they were blown out of the Spectrum Center in a humiliating 109-91 rout Monday, breaking a four-game winning streak.
“We’re a better team than that,’’ Lance Thomas said.
The Knicks (16-14) fell behind by 25 points late in the first half as their defense was an embarrassment. Michael Beasley, starting for Porzingis, was atrocious on that end after an active start, overshadowing his team-leading 23 points.
“It’s always a letdown when you lose, especially by 20 points,’’ Beasley said. “They almost got it to 30 at one point. We let our missed shots determine how we play on defense.”
Ex-Hornet Courtney Lee was a complete no-show with two points on 1-of-8 shooting — 0for-4 from the 3-point line. The Knicks shot 3-of-18 from deep as they fell to 2-9 away from the Garden with one of those victories coming in the comfortable environs of Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
“It was very disappointing,’’ Lee said. “I know for myself I was very frustrated. I missed a lot of easy shots I usually make. Just for everything — we didn’t play well as a team. I think we came in at halftime and Beas said we had eight assists, so definitely the ball wasn’t moving and we weren’t playing our normal brand of basketball.’’
As far as the road woes, Lee said he doesn’t get it since many of the arenas — such as Char-
lotte’s — are filled with Knicks fans.
“At some point we have to say enough is enough and compete the same way on the road,’’ Lee said. “Nothing is changing in what we’re running. We just have to bring the same energy and play at a high level. It’s really no excuse for us not to have any energy. Every away game is like a home game because all you see is Knicks stuff in the crowd.”
This was also the end of the Knicks’ seven-game respite in which they played seven consecutive teams with non-winning records. Now they get Eastern giant Boston (25-7) and surprising Detroit (17-13) Thursday and Friday.
One depressing stat was Charlotte scoring 18 second-chance points to the Knicks’ zero. That’s usually the Knicks’ strength — on nights they are awake. But Hornets center Dwight Howard made his free throws (5-of-6) and dominated the glass with five offensive boards.
The Knicks also turned Charlotte reserve big man Frank Kaminsky, selected in the same lottery as Porzingis but having an inconsistent career, into a stud. Kaminsky looked like Latvian Lite, hitting his first six shots and scoring a team-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting.
Charlotte scored 52 points in the paint. Clearly this was a night the Knicks needed Porzingis’ rim protection.
“Man, that’s not an excuse,’’ said Jarrett Jack of the injuries. “Teams in the league go through it. Injuries are part of this just like practice. You deal with it. You step up and you figure it out.”
The Hornets rolled to a 58-33 lead late in the second quarter off a 41-13 spurt. The Knicks were more than a step slow on defense — as it seems they’ve been all season on the road. The Knicks began the second quarter 4-of-16, and were outscored 31-19. They were missing layups and giving them up, and trailed 60-42 at halftime.
“If you’re not scoring the other team now feels free to shoot and do whatever they want because they say, ‘They’re not scoring,’’ Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said.