The Los Angeles Lakers look to build on their first victory of the season as they host the New York Knicks Thursday night at Staples Center. The Lakers picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday, a 96-71 drubbing of the Utah Jazz that temporarily eased some of the panic of the Lakers' 0-2 start.
New York is one of three Eastern Conference teams the Lakers play twice this season, along with Boston and Miami. The Lakers have beaten the Knicks eight consecutive times. The Knicks are playing the second of back-to-back games, as they lost to the Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Wednesday night 92-78.
This is the first time the Lakers have faced the Knicks since they traded for Carmelo Anthony last season. Anthony scored 37 points in their win on Christmas against the Boston Celtics, but was held to just 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting in Wednesday's loss at Golden State. Anthony has scored at least 21 points in each of his last six games against the Lakers, averaging 25.8 points per contest during that span.
The Lakers, who had their first off day of the season on Wednesday, will be without center Andrew Bynum for the fourth and final game of his suspension on Thursday. Bynum will be eligible to play on Saturday against Denver.
Kobe Bryant, who has led the Lakers in scoring in all three games this season and is averaging 27.7 points per game, needs 49 points to reach 28,000 in his career. Bryant, who is currently sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list, would be the youngest player ever to reach 28,000 career points.
Thursday's 7:30 p.m. PST game will be televised exclusively by TNT. For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.