Knicks vs. Clippers: New York's disastrous west coast trip takes to Staples

It would've been difficult to have predicted a worse beginning to the New York Knicks' trip out west. Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler are both battling knee injuries, and the Knicks have lost the first three games of the road trip by an average of 22.7 points per game.

Those Knicks still able to walk will limp into the Staples Center on Sunday to face the Los Angeles Clippers.

New York has fallen a half-game behind the Indiana Pacers for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the Knicks are now only one game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets for the lead in the Atlantic Division.

Anthony had fluid drained from his right knee Thursday and has since rejoined the team, but his availability for Sunday's game against the Clippers is uncertain. He participated in limited practice Saturday, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Begley also said Chandler, who missed Thursday's 105-90 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers with a knee contusion, didn't practice at all Saturday. New York's five-game west-coast swing ends Monday night against the Utah Jazz.

In the first matchup of the season between the Knicks and Clippers, Los Angeles won 102-88 at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 10. Chris Paul had 25 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals that night.

The Clippers have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, losing in their last outing Wednesday to the Memphis Grizzlies, 96-85. The Clippers' 8 1/2-game lead over the Golden State Warriors in the Pacific Division is the largest divisional lead in the Western Conference.

The game airs Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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