On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers fell 110-103 to the New York Knicks in a shootout at Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony followed up his record 62-point performance with an impressive 35 points against the Lakers. For the visitors, Jodie Meeks led the Lakers with 24 points on 6-8 shooting from three-point land.
The Knicks and Lakers combined for 22 3-pointers in a game where defense was not an emphasis.
Pau Gasol scored 20 points and added 13 rebounds, but the Spaniard was unable to do avoid a fourth straight Lakers’ loss. With the defeat, the Lakers wrapped up their seven-game road trip, sending the team home with a 2-5 record over the 11 days away from home. Overall, the Lakers suffered their 10th loss in their last 12 games. With the loss, the 16-29 Lakers are half a game ahead of last place in the Western Conference.
“Again, we just find a way to lose,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni summed up after the game.
On a positive note, Manny Harris scored 18 points on 6-9 shooting from the field. Harris was signed to his second 10-day contract earlier in the day, and his production was an unexpected surprise.
For the Knicks, Sunday’s victory put them within one game of the final Eastern Conference playoffs spot. The Knicks finished with five players in double figures in an offensively balanced performance.
Defensively, however, neither team deserved recognition, as both teams finished with over 100 points for the game. For entertainment value, the game provided the fan an exciting contest that was close throughout.
Stars such as Merly Streep, Spike Lee, 50 Cent and Dakota Fanning enjoyed the game in person, but one spectator drew the most attention. Kobe Bryant, who expects to visit a doctor on Tuesday regarding a fracture in his knee, helplessly took in the occasion from the Lakers’ bench.
Bryant’s record of 61 points at Madison Square Garden was recently eclipsed by Anthony, and Bryant took the time to share a laugh with the Knicks’ superstar on the court after the game. Bryant said he had called Anthony after Friday night's special performance.
Rumors have suggested that Anthony may join Bryant and the Lakers after the season, but for the day, Anthony was happy to be on the winning side in New York.
Next, the Lakers fly home and face the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center on Tuesday night
