Knicks 114 - 116 Lakers
Final
  for this game

Knicks finish up road swing against vaunted Lakers

Dec 16, 2008 - 2:43 PM NY Knicks (11-13) at LA Lakers (20-3), 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After an emotional matchup in Phoenix one night earlier, the New York Knicks conclude their grueling, five-game road trip Tuesday as they visit the high-powered Los Angeles Lakers.

Head coach Mike D'Antoni made his return to the city where he led the Phoenix Suns for most of the last five seasons Monday, with the Knicks falling just short in a 111-103 loss. Poor shooting - particularly from the perimeter, where they went just 5-of-37 - was the primary factor in the defeat as the team's two-game winning streak was snapped.

But things don't get any easier. The Lakers have been sailing through most of their competition over the first seven weeks of the season, with losses dabbled intermittently between lengthy winning streaks. Los Angeles has won three straight following its surprising defeat at the hands of the Sacramento Kings last Tuesday.

The Lakers have had little trouble putting points on the board, averaging a league-high 108.0 per game. And they haven't even had a shot at the Knicks and their woeful defense. New York yields 106.8 points per contest, the second-highest mark in the league behind only the Golden State Warriors.

Kobe Bryant has gotten more than his share of rest, having yet to reach the 40-minute mark in any game this season. After a summer spent with the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, Bryant said this preseason that his minutes might be limited - and that the Lakers' depth allowed for that possibility.

So far, that has proven to be true. But even with the added time on the sidelines, he is fourth in the league with 24.9 points per game.






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