In laughable rout, Knicks extend skid to 14

The way this season is going, the cockroach will be designated an endangered species before the Knicks win another game.

In their last appearance before they head to London for their silly onegame European road trip, the Knicks, with their who are these guys cast, turned the Hornets, who entered 10 games under .500, into the 72win Bulls. Charlotte, unloading 41 points in the second quarter, laughed to a 11082 wipeout of the Knicks, who extended their franchise record losing streak to 15 games.

“It was a tough afternoon for sure. The guys just could not sustain their energy after the first quarter,” coach Derek Fisher said.

“It’s always difficult when you’re losing,” said Quincy Acy (18 points), whowas the Knicks’ designated leading scorer. “It is not a fun position to be in.” Or to watch. The Knicks are off until Thursday, when they play Jason Kidd’s Bucks in London, where Carmelo Anthony is expected to return. Anthony has missed the last six games resting a sore left knee.

After the secondquarter 4113 slaughter, the Hornets (1524) led by 31 points at halftime and then the game was never remotely in question. Fans booed — and even they eventually gave up. When the Hornets’ lead reached 45 points in the third quarter, the only suspense was whether or not the Knicks would surpass their worst beating ever — 62 points in a 162100 wipeout at Syracuse on Christmas Day 1960.

That didn’t happen, so there was little to make this game memorable — other than Hornet Kemba Walker scoring 28 points in 28 minutes.

So one veteran NBA scout summed up the Knicks, “If you have to get bad to get good, mission accomplished.”

Prior to the game, the Knicks signed forwards Lance Thomas and Lou Amundson to 10day contracts. Both were acquired in the threeteam trade involved J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert — and both were waived along with Alex Kirk. This is the 69 Amundson’s 10th team while Thomas, a Brooklyn native, was with Oklahoma City after some time in New Orleans.