Lakers 80 - 92 Knicks
Final
  for this game

Lakers, Knicks clash at MSG

Feb 1, 2015 - 3:35 PM

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(SportsNetwork.com) - Two of the NBA's storied franchises have fallen on hard times, but they'll meet Sunday afternoon when the Los Angeles Lakers visit Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks.

The Lakers are last in the Pacific Division, own the second-worst mark in the Western Conference and fourth-worst in the whole league.

New York is last in the Atlantic Division, last in the Eastern Conference and have the second-worst record in the NBA.

The Lakers begin a four-game eastern road trip with stops in Milwaukee, Orlando and Cleveland on the horizon. They closed a three-game homestand with a thrilling victory on Thursday.

Without Kobe Bryant, who is gone for the season with a torn rotator cuff, the Lakers spoiled Pau Gasol's return to Los Angeles thanks to a 123-118 double- overtime win over the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan Hill had 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Lakers.

LA squandered a 15-point second half advantage and a nine-point cushion late in regulation. Chicago didn't take it first lead until the early moments of the first overtime when Derrick Rose knocked down a 3-pointer at the 4:42 mark.

Hill, though, sent the game into another extra session with a late jumper from the left wing in overtime and LA pulled away in the second OT.

Wayne Ellington posted 23 points and five rebounds for the Lakers, who snapped a nine-game losing streak. Jordan Clarkson (18), Carlos Boozer (16), Jeremy Lin (11) and Ed Davis (10) rounded out the double-figure scorers.

"Our guys battled. Played extremely hard all night," Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "Was happy with the team's poise and ability to bounce back in the OTs."

The Knicks have won four of their last six, but last time out, they fell on the road to the Indiana Pacers, 103-82, Thursday.

Not even a surprise start by Carmelo Anthony could keep the Knicks close. The All-Star forward was questionable on the second game of a back-to-back and finished with 18 points, but New York's defense did not duplicate its efforts over the past two weeks.

"We ran out of gas, to be honest," Anthony admitted. "It was one of those nights where we took a step backwards."

During a five-game stretch that saw them go 4-1, the Knicks allowed just 91.4 points per game -- more than 10 points fewer than their season average.

The Knicks led by 11 early on, but they reverted back to their sieve-like ways against the Pacers, who scored 67 points during the second and third quarters on 63 percent shooting.

Lou Amundson, who was signed for the remainder of the season, had 17 points and Tim Hardaway, Jr. finished with 11.

The Lakers are 11-3 in their last 14 against the Knicks, but all three of New York's wins during that span came in the last three meetings at Madison Square Garden.






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