Should the Nets extend their winless misery throughout the trip, they would be 0-17, which would tie the worst streak ever to start a season, a dubious mark jointly held by the Heat in their inaugural season of 1988-89 and the Clippers in lockout-shortened 1998-99.

When they return, they would face Dallas and former Net Jason Kidd, who likely would love to extend his old team's misery.

Despite the stunning adversity, which includes 70 manpower games lost to injury, illness or personal reasons through 13 games, embattled coach Lawrence Frank, who is fighting for his coaching life in an almost impossible situation, refuses to makes excuses or wallow in self-pity. He defends his overmatched, hard-playing team.

"No one cares, or should they, but I feel sorry for our guys because the blemish that comes with (being winless) and why it's a story, it's eight guys who truly have worked their tails off," Frank said. "If they were coming in (not caring) in practice or not focused at shootaround, then I'd say there's not much hope. But they're not. They work every single day. These guys care. ... I'll take 100 percent responsibility for where we're at."

KNICKS 98, NETS 91: The Nets all-losing start continued through 13 games as not even the return of Devin Harris could save them on their home floor. The Knicks' pick-and-roll game and foul trouble on center Brook Lopez contributed to making the Nets the ninth team in league history to lose their first 13 games. Lopez finished with an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double. Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 24 points, and Harris had 12 points and seven assists in his first game since Oct. 30.