• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Knicks-Lakers Preview

Nov 23, 2009 - 5:46 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (3-10) at Los Angeles (10-3), 10:30 p.m. EDT

With Pau Gasol having returned to action, Kobe Bryant hasn't been forced to shoulder as much of the scoring load in the last two games for the Los Angeles Lakers. Maybe that will help the New York Knicks contain Bryant this time around.

Bryant faces the Knicks for the first time since a spectacular 61-point performance in February as the Lakers try for a fourth straight victory Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Los Angeles (10-3) got an average of 31.0 points from Bryant during its 8-3 start without an injured Gasol, who returned and had 24 points and 13 boards last Friday in a 108-93 win over Chicago. Gasol had 15 points in Sunday's 101-85 rout of Oklahoma City.

With their starting power forward back, the Lakers haven't had to rely on Bryant as much. He's averaged 23.5 points the last two games.

"He can facilitate offense for everybody else too," said Bryant about Gasol. "He's not just a great scorer. He's a great passer. He has great IQ, great vision. Not only me, it makes everybody's job a lot easier."

New York (3-10) gave up 31 points to Gasol in a 126-117 loss to Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2009, but it was Bryant's 61 that was the story. Bryant made 19 of 31 shots and all 20 free throws to set a Madison Square Garden record.

"He was on fire from the start and finished the game almost the same way," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said after the game. "That was a remarkable performance."

Los Angeles has won four straight against New York, which is beginning a three-game trip in a building in which it has had little success. The Knicks are 3-17 overall at Staples Center, although all of the victories have come against the Lakers. The Knicks are 0-10 there against the Clippers.

"It makes it tough, because we're on the road right now in the West," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "That's not fun. There are a lot of games, just as long as we keep playing and keep playing hard."

The Knicks have won back-to-back road games, but couldn't make it three in a row overall Sunday with a 107-105 overtime home loss to Boston. Al Harrington scored 30 points and David Lee added 22 and 15 rebounds.

Harrington's team-high 20.9 scoring average leads all reserves.

New York is allowing an average of 107.9 points, and will be facing a Los Angeles attack averaging 105.0 during its three-game win streak. The Lakers are among the league leaders with 23.8 assists per game and Bryant and Gasol combined for 13 in Sunday's win.

"I thought there were some inspiring basketball actions tonight," Jackson said. "There were some things that we felt we did really well defensively."

Andrew Bynum scored 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting and could be poised to take advantage of New York's weak interior defense. Since missing two games this month with a strained right elbow, Bynum is averaging 19.8 points and 11.7 rebounds in six games.