Knicks vs. Lakers preview: Game time, TV info and more

The Los Angeles Lakers have an opportunity to prove their mini-resurgence is real Christmas Day on national TV as they host the New York Knicks.

The Knicks were the last team to beat the Lakers almost two weeks ago. New York put up 41 in the first quarter against former coach Mike D'Antoni and never looked back, with Carmelo Anthony scoring 30 points - a figure that would have been higher had he not sprained his foot in the third quarter. But since, Los Angeles has reeled off four straight wins, and are now on the verge of being back at .500 after an awful start to the season.

The Lakers have been winning, but it hasn't been convincing: one win came against Washington, another against a struggling Philadelphia team, then a one-point win over a Charlotte Bobcats squad riding a 15-game losing streak and an overtime win over the Golden State Warriors. But Steve Nash is now back, with Tuesday set to be his second game under D'Antoni on the Lakers after many years together in Phoenix. A win over a team that's been one of the best in the league thus far in the season would go a long way towards showing the Lakers are back.

Here's the info on the game, Kobe Bryant's 15th Christmas Day performance:

Tuesday, Dec. 25

New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 3 p.m., ABC