Associated Press
NEW YORK ó They have compiled the longest winning streak in franchise history. Not only that, but the Charlotte Bobcats also own the longest streak in the Eastern Conference.
So which is better?
“The second. It’s got to be, because we’re a team that has aspirations of trying to backdoor our way into the playoffs and so it’s really important that we’re doing it right now,” guard Raja Bell said. “It’s great that it’s a franchise record, but the timing couldn’t be better for us.”
Gerald Wallace had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and the Bobcats beat the New York Knicks 114-105 on Saturday night for their franchise-record sixth straight victory.
Boris Diaw added 22 points for the Bobcats, who have won nine of their last 13 in hopes of landing a playoff berth in Larry Brown’s first season as coach. Charlotte pulled within a game of Chicago for eighth place.
“We’re just getting better right now and more consistent,” Diaw said. “We’ve been able to play a lot of good games in a row and we try to keep going.”
Raymond Felton had 19 points and 10 assists, and Bell scored 17 points as Charlotte ended a four-game skid against New York. The Bobcats, who have never made the playoffs since joining the NBA for the 2004-05 season, also equaled their franchise best with a fourth straight road victory.
They held the Knicks to two field goals in the final 8:15 of the third quarter, then blew it open early in the fourth ó helped by 3-pointers from Vladimir Radmanovic and Bell.
“We played great,” Brown said. “They’re hard to guard.”