Knicks End Longest Single-Season Losing Streak in Franchise History

With Monday's 99-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, the New York Knicks ended a 16-game stretch of futility that represents the longest single-season losing streak in franchise history, per Sportsnet Stats.

Having last won a game Dec. 12, the Knicks benefited immensely from the presence of star forward Carmelo Anthony, who was playing his second game since missing six straight contests due to a knee injury.

Though still somewhat hobbled by his balky knee, the 30-year-old Anthony managed a game-high 24 points over 36 minutes, with nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.

The other key contributor was 23-year-old rookie point guard Langston Galloway, who had 21 points, five rebounds and three assists in the fifth game of his NBA career.

Not only had the Knicks not won a game since Dec. 12, but their previous win before that came back on Nov. 22, meaning the team won just one game over a stretch of nearly two months, going 1-26 over that span.

While the recent 16-game losing streak is the longest single-season run in franchise history, the Knicks did lose 20 consecutive games between the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons, with 12 losses coming at the end of the first campaign, followed by eight more to begin the second, per Basketball-Reference.com's play index.

The 12-game losing streak at the end of the 1984-85 campaign previously stood as the longest single-season losing streak in franchise history.