LONDON (AFP) - Carmelo Anthony was powerless to prevent the New York Knicks extending their franchise-losing record streak to 16 matches as they were thrashed 95-79 by the Milwaukee Bucks in London on Thursday.

Anthony, who had missed the Knicks' previous six matches with a knee injury, led his team with 25 points but could not make up for the deficiencies of a side who have lost 26 of their last 27 NBA games.

In what is now the NBA's annual showpiece match in London, the Knicks were not much of an advertisement for basketball and missed their first 10 shots.

OJ Mayo scored 22 points for Milwaukee while Brandon Knight contributed 20 points and six steals.

It all made for a long night for the Knicks and Anthony whose previous London visits included being a member of the United States team who won Olympic basketball gold in 2012 and featuring in the Knicks' victory over the Detroit Pistons in January 2013.