Porzingis: Knicks don't trust each other enough

The New York Knicks dropped to 12th place in the East with Monday's 121-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, New York's 21st defeat in its last 29 games.

Lackadaisical play was evident throughout, and as the Knicks' postseason hopes begin to fade, fingers are being pointed inward.

"It’s kind of everybody for (themselves) a lot of times," Kristaps Porzingis said of his teammates after the game, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. "Both ends of the floor."

Coach Jeff Hornacek lambasted the Knicks' effort, saying the team needs to play with more pride, reports Marc Berman from the New York Post. Carmelo Anthony - fending off the latest trade rumor - preferred to call it a lack of effort.

"Pride, effort, however you want to put it, it just wasn't there," Anthony said, as per Begley. "My word is effort. Coach's word is pride. It just wasn't there."

The Knicks' last three losses have come by an average of 12 points. Anthony played well offensively against L.A. with a game-high 26 points, but Porzingis struggled from the floor and Derrick Rose's return from a four-game absence featured just five points and three turnovers.

"We all make millions of dollars playing this game so the least we can do is go out there and play hard every night," guard Brandon Jennings said, according to Begley.

It doesn't figure to get easier for New York. Their four games left before the All-Star break include the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder.