Lakers 107 - 116 Knicks
Final
  for this game

Knicks put perfect home record on the line vs. D'Antoni's Lakers

Dec 13, 2012 - 3:38 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Knicks are the only unbeaten team at home and will host former coach Mike D'Antoni and the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night from Madison Square Garden.

The Atlantic Division-leading Knicks are 8-0 as the host this season and have won two straight and seven of their last eight games, including a 100-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Carmelo Anthony scored a season- high 45 points and Jason Kidd hit the deciding 3-pointer late in the game to lift the Knicks, who will play six in a row at Madison Square Garden.

"That's why we got him here," Anthony said of Kidd's game-winning shot. "We know how much of a big time player he is, how smart a player he is. He came up big for us tonight."

Anthony is second in the NBA with 27.7 ppg and has scored 30-plus points seven times this season.

Kidd ended with 18 points and J.R. Smith netted 16 off the bench.

New York buried 14-of-28 3-pointers and shot 46.2 percent from the field.

The Knicks will also host the Cavaliers, Rockets, Nets, Bulls and Timberwolves on the homestand.

In injury news for the Knicks, Smith is questionable this evening with a sore back.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles has been struggling as of late, losing three straight and five of six games. The Lakers opened a four-game road trip with a 100-94 loss at Cleveland as Kobe Bryant scored 42 points and Dwight Howard ended with 19 points and 20 rebounds.

Metta World Peace had 13 points for the Lakers, who fell to 2-7 on the road.

"It's gut-check time. We have to look in the mirror and fix some things," Lakers forward Antawn Jamison said.

The Lakers will also visit Washington and Philadelphia on the trek.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol missed his fifth straight game with knee tendinitis and is questionable for Thursday's game.

Meanwhile, D'Antoni resigned from his head coaching duties of the Knicks in March and was appointed head coach of the Lakers after Mike Brown was fired following a 1-4 start.

The Lakers and Knicks split a pair of meetings last season, but Los Angeles has won 12 of 15 and 14 of the last 18 meetings.






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