Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 28 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 99-82 win over the New York Knicks Thursday night at Staples Center. It was the second straight victory for the Lakers, who evened their record to 2-2 on the season.
Pau Gasol had his first double-double of the season with 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks on Thursday. Bryant added four rebounds and six assists for the Lakers and scored 13 of their 17 points in the third quarter.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 27 points, but fell to 2-15 all-time against the Lakers at Staples Center, including the playoffs. The Lakers put the clamps on Amare Stoudemire, who made just four of 17 field goals and had just two rebounds in 32 minutes.
The Lakers pulled away by holding the Knicks to just 10 points in the fourth quarter, including just one point in the first six minutes of the final frame. The Lakers held the Knicks to just 31.3% shooting, one game after holding Utah to 32.2% from the field.
The Lakers got 40 points from their bench, who made seven of 11 three-point attempts. Steve Blake hit three of those threes and scored 11 points. Forward Josh McRoberts started but will move to the bench beginning Saturday with the return of center Andrew Bynum. McRoberts, who Lakers' radio broadcaster John ireland has taken to calling McRambis in honor of the scrappy former Laker Kurt Rambis, had 10 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
The Lakers battle the Denver Nuggets next in a home-and-home over the weekend, beginning with a Saturday afternoon affair at Staples Center.
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