The New York Knicks are in the midst of their best stretch at Madison Square Garden in two years. A matchup against the surging New Jersey Nets on Friday, though, could affect that recent success.

The Knicks (17-23) have won six of their last seven at MSG, giving them their best home stretch since going 9-2 from Feb. 23-March 23, 2005. New York, however, has lost four straight and nine of 11 at home against New Jersey (18-20).

The Knicks fell to 7-12 on the road with Wednesday's 99-98 loss to Washington. Quentin Richardson scored a season-high 35 points, while Eddy Curry added 18 points and eight rebounds, but New York lost on Caron Butler's dunk with 2.2 seconds remaining.

"We went blow for blow with them," said Richardson, who scored 25 of his points in the first half. "But unfortunately they got the last punch."

New York plays three of its next five games at home as it tries to catch Toronto and New Jersey, which are tied atop the Atlantic Division and lead the Knicks by two games.

The home games, though, won't be easy with matchups against Phoenix and Miami, which should have Shaquille O'Neal back from knee surgery.

New York tied for the league's worst home mark last season at 15-26, but is 10-11 this season after starting 1-7 at MSG.

The Nets, meanwhile, have won seven of their last nine, including two straight. Vince Carter scored 26 points and Jason Kidd added 17 points and seven rebounds, but New Jersey blew a 23-point third-quarter lead before holding on for a 92-85 win over lowly Charlotte on Wednesday.

The Nets went nearly five minutes without a point during the fourth quarter, and during that stretch, Charlotte repeatedly fouled forward Jason Collins, who is a 50 percent free throw shooter. He went 3-of-10 from the line during the quarter and finished 3-of-12.

"It's not like I don't practice," Collins said. "I take at least 200 free throws a day. It's a matter of making them in the game."

While Collins' poor shooting could have cost the Nets the game, Carter had two big baskets late in the fourth.

"Vince stepped up in a big way when we were struggling and had a great sense for the moment," coach Lawrence Frank said.

The Nets play six of their next seven games on the road, where they are 6-10.

"It's just find a way to win, by any means," Carter said. "We put ourselves in a hole, so we can't complain how the win looks. We just want to get back to .500 and into this playoff race."