Preview: Knicks Visit STAPLES

The previous time the Lakers faced the Knicks, Kobe Bryant made history by becoming the 31st player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points.” I always like playing here, period,” Bryant said. “Last year I didn’t have an opportunity to play and I was upset about it. This is my favorite arena to play in so I’m just happy and relieved that I was able to play tonight.”

Bryant scored a total of 39 points on 14-28 from the field to go along with 11 boards and 8 dimes as the Lakers escaped with a 95-90 victory, despite a late New York surge in the 4th period, which featured 9 straight point from guard Jamal Crawford.

“We did our normal thing. We asked the Lord’s prayer after a Sunday ballgame,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “Forgive us our sins and trespasses. We had some trespasses, there’s no doubt about it.”

Sunday afternoon Los Angeles fell to Cleveland for the 5th consecutive time. The Lakers, down by 3 in the final seconds of the game, failed to get a clean look at the basket, which fit right in with Cleveland’s plan.

“For them to not even get a shot off, that’s what it’s been about for us lately. We’ve been extremely conscious of playing defense the right way. We thought that Kobe was going to take the shot, of course, Cavs forward LeBron James said. We just tried to get a hand up, contain them.”

Forward Luke Walton on the last possession of the game: “We ran our last second play, I was hoping to get the shot off.” I kind of fumbled the ball a little bit, wasn’t aware the clock was as low as it was, and as soon as I passed it back to Kobe, I realized that that was a mistake, and unfortunately it cost us big.”

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson commented by saying, “Has to, he’s the open guy,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before quickly adding: “The game wasn’t lost on that sequence.”

The Lakers come into their meeting with the Knicks having lost 3 consecutive games, tying their longest streak of the season.

Knicks Starting 5:

Injury Report:
Stephon Marbury: Sore Left Ankle - Out

Lakers Starting 5:

Injury Report:
Trevor Ariza: Broken Foot - Out
Andrew Bynum: Left Patella Subluxation - Out
Chris Mihm: Right Ankle Bursitis - Out
————————————————————————–
Time: 7:30PM | TV: FSN-HD | Radio: KLAC AM 570, ESPN 1330

Can the Lakers rebound after losing their 3rd consecutive game? What kind of production will LA recieve from Walton, Odom & Brown? Sound off in our CL.com forums!