This time, Steve Nash was on the floor running the show for the Lakers and their play was much better than the previous meeting between the two teams at Madison Square Garden 
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant and the Lakers got a big win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights - Los Angeles Lakers beat New York Knicks 100-94 Tuesday afternoon
- The Lakers, who were struggling most of the season, have won 5 straight, are now at 14-14 overall
- Tyson Chandler fouling out was a big blow to the Knicks defensive effort
LOS ANGELES — No matter the outcome, the Los Angeles Lakers had shown up in this showdown with the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Staples Center.
This was far from a repeat of Dec. 13, when coach Mike D'Antoni made the most humbling of returns to his old Madison Square Garden haunt that seemed to confirm all the reasons he hadn't been able to cut it as Knicks coach in the three seasons before he resigned in March. But the Lakers' ability to not only keep up with the Knicks but outlast them 100-94 made this the high point of their disastrous season, a fifth consecutive win that may very well spur this so-called Super Team onto bigger and better things.
BOX SCORE: Lakers 100, Knicks 94
They had point guard Steve Nash this time, and that meant promise was back and potential would be filled again for this 14-14 team that hadn't been at the .500 mark since Nov. 30 (8-8). Nash, who returned on Saturday from the left leg injury that had him out since Oct. 31 and hit a game-winner against Golden State, helped stave off a late Knicks run with a step-back jumper with 1:47 remaining that put the Lakers up 96-91.
The Lakers held on from there, benefiting from the departure of reigning Defensive Player of the Year, center Tyson Chandler, with 2:22 left when he fouled out. Chandler would have come in handy with 12 seconds left, when Lakers forward Pau Gasol dribbled unimpeded from atop the key for a dunk that all but sealed it. The Lakers survived despite the loss of small forward Metta World Peace to his sixth foul with 1:58 remaining. World Peace had perhaps his best game of the season, finishing with 20 points and seven rebounds while helping slow Knicks star Carmelo Anthony (34 points on 13 of 23 shooting). Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 34 points (14 of 24 shooting), while Nash had 16 points and 11 assists.
VIDEO: D'Antoni steps on court, interferes with play
While wins vs. the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Bobcats and Golden State Warriors had certainly been steps in the right direction for the Lakers, this was easily their most impressive win thus far. The Knicks (20-7) not only entered with the league's fourth-best record but with a need for a win after dropping two of their last four. 
Lakers center Dwight Howard drives against Knicks center Tyson Chandler. (Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images) Anthony, who was virtually unguardable in the previous matchup in which he scored 30 points in 23 minutes before leaving with a sprained ankle and the Knicks led by as many as 26 points, must have felt all the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning when he first took the floor. Because D'Antoni brought World Peace off the bench for the third straight game, the 6-foot-8 Anthony was defended by 6-4, second-year point guard Darius Morris in what had to have been one of the most one-sided matchups of this season.
NEAR-BRAWL: Nets' Wallace pulls Celtics' Garnett's shorts
Anthony soared over the shorter Morris with ease for a 17-footer, then hit another midrange jumper moments later in a three-point play before World Peace mercifully took over for Morris.
World Peace's impact was both instant and constant. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting four of five three-pointers while holding Anthony to just five more points before the break (10 of his 34 in the first half). Bryant led the Lakers with 15 points as the Lakers led 51-49.
Anthony, who entered play trailing only Bryant among the league's scoring leaders (28.3 points per game), could only be contained for so long. Despite D'Antoni starting World Peace to start the second half, Anthony scored seven quick points – two jumpers and a three - during a 12-2 Knicks run that put them up 61-53 early in the third quarter.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant drives through the defense of Knicks guard J.R. Smith during Los Angeles' 100-94 win Tuesday. Alex Gallardo, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Celtics center Kevin Garnett and Nets forward Gerald Wallace get tangled up and exchange words during Boston's 93-76 win. Mike Stobe, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Lakers dancers show off Christmas duds. Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Celtics center Kevin Garnett tries to steal the ball from Nets center Brook Lopez. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant wore colorful shoes. Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Nets guard Joe Johnson tries to make a move while defended by the Celtics' Paul Pierce. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Knicks guard J.R. Smith shoots as Lakers guard Kobe Bryant tries to block him. Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Celtics guard Rajon Rondo goes for a layup under pressure from the Nets' Keith Bogans. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Lakers guard Steve Nash shows off his unique haircut during warmups. Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Nets centers Brook Lopez and Andray Blatch congratulate Deron Williams after Williams hit a shot in the first quarter. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant squares up against Knicks guard Jason Kidd. Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Celtics forward Paul Pierce drives to the basket against Nets forward Gerald Wallace. Mike Stobe, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a difficult layup. Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Nets guard Deron Williams crosses up Celtics guard Rajon Rondo. Mike Stobe, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay 
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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/lakers/2012/12/25/new-york-knicks-vs-los-angeles-lakers-this-time-lakers-play-hard-and-get-the-win/1790647/
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant and the Lakers got a big win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) LOS ANGELES — No matter the outcome, the Los Angeles Lakers had shown up in this showdown with the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Staples Center. This was far from a repeat of Dec. 13, when coach Mike D'Antoni made the most humbling of returns to his old Madison Square Garden haunt that seemed to confirm all the reasons he hadn't been able to cut it as Knicks coach in the three seasons before he resigned in March. But the Lakers' ability to not only keep up with the Knicks but outlast them 100-94 made this the high point of their disastrous season, a fifth consecutive win that may very well spur this so-called Super Team onto bigger and better things. BOX SCORE: Lakers 100, Knicks 94 They had point guard Steve Nash this time, and that meant promise was back and potential would be filled again for this 14-14 team that hadn't been at the .500 mark since Nov. 30 (8-8). Nash, who returned on Saturday from the left leg injury that had him out since Oct. 31 and hit a game-winner against Golden State, helped stave off a late Knicks run with a step-back jumper with 1:47 remaining that put the Lakers up 96-91. The Lakers held on from there, benefiting from the departure of reigning Defensive Player of the Year, center Tyson Chandler, with 2:22 left when he fouled out. Chandler would have come in handy with 12 seconds left, when Lakers forward Pau Gasol dribbled unimpeded from atop the key for a dunk that all but sealed it. The Lakers survived despite the loss of small forward Metta World Peace to his sixth foul with 1:58 remaining. World Peace had perhaps his best game of the season, finishing with 20 points and seven rebounds while helping slow Knicks star Carmelo Anthony (34 points on 13 of 23 shooting). Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 34 points (14 of 24 shooting), while Nash had 16 points and 11 assists. VIDEO: D'Antoni steps on court, interferes with play While wins vs. the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Bobcats and Golden State Warriors had certainly been steps in the right direction for the Lakers, this was easily their most impressive win thus far. The Knicks (20-7) not only entered with the league's fourth-best record but with a need for a win after dropping two of their last four. Lakers center Dwight Howard drives against Knicks center Tyson Chandler. (Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images) Anthony, who was virtually unguardable in the previous matchup in which he scored 30 points in 23 minutes before leaving with a sprained ankle and the Knicks led by as many as 26 points, must have felt all the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning when he first took the floor. Because D'Antoni brought World Peace off the bench for the third straight game, the 6-foot-8 Anthony was defended by 6-4, second-year point guard Darius Morris in what had to have been one of the most one-sided matchups of this season. NEAR-BRAWL: Nets' Wallace pulls Celtics' Garnett's shorts Anthony soared over the shorter Morris with ease for a 17-footer, then hit another midrange jumper moments later in a three-point play before World Peace mercifully took over for Morris. World Peace's impact was both instant and constant. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting four of five three-pointers while holding Anthony to just five more points before the break (10 of his 34 in the first half). Bryant led the Lakers with 15 points as the Lakers led 51-49. Anthony, who entered play trailing only Bryant among the league's scoring leaders (28.3 points per game), could only be contained for so long. Despite D'Antoni starting World Peace to start the second half, Anthony scored seven quick points – two jumpers and a three - during a 12-2 Knicks run that put them up 61-53 early in the third quarter. Story Highlights
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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/lakers/2012/12/25/new-york-knicks-vs-los-angeles-lakers-this-time-lakers-play-hard-and-get-the-win/1790647/