West Looms as Knicks Keep Going South Geoff Burke/USA TODAY, via Reuters The Wizards" John Wall, who scored 31 points, driving for a basket past Carmelo Anthony (7). WASHINGTON - Coach Mike Woodson spoke with Carmelo Anthony for a few minutes after Friday's practice. There was no great significance to the meeting, according to Woodson, who always looks for opportunities to chat with his players. But with Anthony, who has endured more downs than ups this season, Woodson said he felt it was important "just to see where his head was." One of the messages Woodson said he hoped to convey was that it was still early. This has become a mantra of sorts for the Knicks, this notion that they can erase their sluggish, injury-marred start with an unexpected surge. And while Woodson clearly wanted to get things moving in the right direction Saturday night against the Washington Wizards, the Knicks have discovered that quiet conversations do only so much good. Quiet conversations cannot protect the rim. They cannot knock down 3-pointers. And they cannot defend John Wall, a point guard who was at his high-octane best as the Wizards dealt the Knicks a 98-89 loss at Verizon Center. "We can't keep losing these games," Amar'e Stoudemire said. The Knicks (3-9) are in a tailspin, having lost five straight, and their coming schedule is not forgiving. Saturday's game was the start of a four-game trip, which will continue Monday when they head west to face the Portland Trail Blazers and their own fleet-footed point guard, Damian Lillard. "Flat," Woodson said, offering a one-word synopsis. We've got to get back to the basics and try to figure out how to put four quarters together. The Knicks struggled to contain Wall, who collected 31 points and 7 assists. He showcased his considerable skills as the Wizards (5-8) asserted themselves early in the second half. After Anthony missed a jump shot, Wall took the ball and rocketed up the court, flying past his teammates and any potential defenders. The Knicks" J. R. Smith was left to grab Wall by the arm and essentially tackle him. Wall made both free throws. The Knicks, meantime, became stagnant on offense after a solid first half. Their ball movement slowed. Their spacing collapsed. The Wizards capitalized on every miscue, outscoring them by 27-17 in the third quarter. When the Knicks inexplicably triple-teamed Bradley Beal on a fast break, Jan Vesely leaked away for an open layup. And when Smith misfired on a pair of free throws, everyone in attendance received a coupon for a free chicken sandwich as part of a fan promotion. It was that kind of night for the Knicks. "I'm just trying to stay positive throughout this very tough time right now," said Anthony, who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds despite being double-teamed whenever he touched the ball. The game plan was just to get the ball out of my hands and make someone else do it. And they were successful. The Wizards were looking to recover from a loss Friday night to the Toronto Raptors, during which Wall had done everything he could to keep his team involved, scoring a season-high 37 points. Against the Knicks, he faced a smorgasbord of defenders. Beno Udrih, coming off his finest effort of the season in Wednesday's hard-fought loss to the Indiana Pacers, started on him. Smith and Iman Shumpert also took turns. For all three, it was a thankless task. "I like everything about him," Woodson said of Wall. Midway through the first quarter, after Andrea Bargnani missed inside, Wall corralled the rebound and pushed the ball up the floor, twisting his way through traffic and all the way to the rim for a layup. The entire sequence took five seconds. It was a dire situation for the Knicks, who have not been known for their top-notch defense this season. Wall made it look softer than usual. "He was playing the right way," Wizards Coach Randy Wittman said. The Knicks were missing Raymond Felton, their starting point guard, who sat out his second straight game with what the team described as a sore back. Woodson said it was unclear when Felton would return. "I'm sure when he's ready, he'll let us know," Woodson said. Without Felton - and without Tyson Chandler, sidelined for the indefinite future with a fractured right leg - Woodson once again looked to unearth production from somewhere, anywhere. Anthony has shouldered much of the offensive load this season, and Woodson would prefer for him to have help. On Saturday, Woodson turned to Stoudemire, who has been battling a tight playing-time restriction after off-season knee surgery. For the first time, Woodson extended Stoudemire's minutes to 21 from 15, and Stoudemire took advantage. He sank all five of his shots in the first half, including an emphatic dunk over the Wizards" Garrett Temple, who looked stunned that Stoudemire's surgically repaired knees were still capable of that much pop. "He was fantastic," said Woodson, who described Stoudemire as the team's "only bright spot." The Knicks" continuity disappeared after halftime, though. Wall found open teammates. Stoudemire languished in the post. The crowd delighted in food giveaways. And the Knicks, in what has become a familiar scene, were left to talk things over some more.