The outlook doesn't brighten much as the Nets head to Chicago Tuesday, continuing a span where they play 6-of-8 games on the road, including four of the next five.

"The first message is I want them to enjoy basketball, enjoy playing the game and play hard," said interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe. "This is about getting better individually and as a team. So every day I want them to come and make sure they did something to make themselves better. We're about building a foundation here."

And not just digging a bigger hole. The players realize everything is new as Vandeweghe tries to implement some new schemes while keeping much of Lawrence Frank's game plans intact. Under Vandeweghe, the Nets have won one game and lost one.

"Obviously the effort is there," said Devin Harris. "The guys are starting to play with one another, get the fun back in it."

Now they have to get the wins. And it won't be easy as they go to Chicago, where they have lost four straight and 6-of-7 games.

KNICKS 106 NETS 97: After running up a season-best 61 points in the first half, the Nets were stymied by the Knicks' zone and scored just 36 points after halftime. They hung in with a team that historically presents bad matchups for them and were within three points with less than eight minutes left. But five turnovers helped doom them to their 19th defeat in 20 games. The Nets had ended the NBA's worst ever season-starting losing streak at 18 before losing Sunday. Chris Douglas Roberts scored 26 points.