Spurs continue rodeo trip at skidding Knicks

NEW YORK -- The next stop on the San Antonio Spurs "Rodeo Road Trip" that will take them to eight cities, traveling 7,378 miles, is Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks on Sunday.

This is the 15th annual trip of this kind for the Spurs (41-12), who are 2-1 on this latest version after Friday's 103-92 win over the Detroit Pistons. San Antonio won't play at home until March 1 against the Indiana Pacers.

Since this grueling grind first started in 2003, the Spurs have produced a .697 (84-36) winning percentage as well as a point differential plus-485.

Tony Parker has amassed the most career points on this trip, accumulating 1,789.

Kawhi Leonard has the hot hand for the Spurs. He's scored at least 30 points in seven consecutive games and has scored in double figures in 82 straight games.

Dewayne Dedmon had 17 points and 17 rebounds, both season highs, in the win over Detroit. Dedmon is filling in for center Pau Gasol, who is out with a broken finger on his left hand.

"He (Dedmon) hit the boards hard, he ran the floor, his energy, his aggressiveness, his defense -- he was fantastic in that regard," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Knicks (22-33) have dropped four straight and 20 of their last 26. New York gave up at least 30 points in each quarter for the first time this season in a 131-123 loss to Denver on Friday.

First-year coach Jeff Hornacek chastised his starters for a lack of defensive effort on Friday.

"They (Knicks starters) couldn't guard anybody," a visibly upset Hornacek said. "It's as simple as that. They should be embarrassed at the way they couldn't guard anybody.

"If those guys (starters) are happy scoring their points, we're going to lose every game."

In an effort to shake things up and get his team out of this winter funk, Hornacek switched Kristaps Porzingis from power forward to center against Denver. Porzingis managed 17 points, but had difficulty handling Denver's Nikola Jokic, who muscled his way for a career-high 40 points.

Porzingis certainly wasn't the only culprit exposed against the Nuggets. When Derrick Rose was on the floor, the Knicks were outscored by 15 points, and when Carmelo Anthony was in the game, New York was outscored by 13.

"Look at the difference between the first group and the second. They play with effort," Hornacek said. "They get after guys. A guy who got the ball, they get up on him. They help each other out. First group didn't do that."

Anthony is eight points from passing Charles Barkley (23,757 points) for 25th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Anthony averages 23.2 points this season, ranking him 17th in the league.

New York could be without center Joakim Noah, who has missed the past three games with soreness in his left hamstring.