Here is what you need to know before the Lakers tip off against the New York Knicks.
1)
Ed Davis continues to lead the league in field goal percentage after the All-Star break. The first-year Laker has shot 50-for-67 (74.6 percent) in the 10 games since the midseason exhibition, which puts him 7.5 percent ahead of second-place DeAndre Jordan.
2)
Head coach Byron Scott said at Thursday morning shootaround that he will find minutes for Los Angeles D-Fenders call-up Jabari Brown. The rookie guard from Missouri currently leads the D-League in scoring (24.4), fast-break points (6.0), made free throws (6.2), 20-point games (28) and 30-point games (10).
3)
The Lakers have won seven straight against the Knicks at home, last losing in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2007. During this streak, L.A. has won by double digits five times, with an average final score of 110-96.
4)
The Knicks are currently trudging through a five-game losing streak. Their offense has been atrocious lately, as they rank last in the league in scoring (82.8), field goal percentage (38.5) and assists (16.6) during this streak. On the other end, they have allowed opponents to shoot a league-high 29.8 free throws per game.
Knicks Shot Chart (Last Five Games)
5)
Last time Knicks met the Lakers, they handed L.A. a 92-80 loss in Madison Square Garden on Feb. 1. However, New York still had star forward Carmelo Anthony at the time, and he poured in 31 points on 13-for-25 shooting. Anthony is now out for the season due to surgery on his left knee.
6)
Despite having missed 32 games this season, including the last 10 due to surgery, Anthony continues to lead New York in double-doubles with only five. The remaining active Knicks have combined for 13 double-doubles, which are fewer than 38 individual players, including Jordan Hill (19).
7)
With Anthony out, the Knicks have been forced to look for other scoring options. Andrea Bargnani is averaging 19.5 points in his last four games, but Tim Hardaway Jr. has been the highest scoring active Knick this season with only 11.2 points per game. Hardaway — who is questionable due to lower back spasms — has also been an inefficient option, as he is shooting the NBA’s third-lowest field goal percentage (38.3) and has made just seven of his last 33 shots.
8)
Struggling to find scoring is not a new development for the Knicks. They average the second-fewest points in the league (92.2), while finishing last in points in the paint (33.0) and on fast-breaks (8.5). New York, which also shooting the fewest free throws (18.8), is being outscored by 8.9 points per game — the second-worst mark in the NBA.
9)
The Knicks are currently winless in 12 road games against Western Conference opponents. These two scenarios have been disastrous for New York, as it is also just 3-18 against Western foes overall and 3-29 away from Madison Square Garden.
10)
Knicks head coach Derek Fisher is not the only member of the Knicks organization with Lakers ties. Associate head coach Kurt Rambis won four championships during the Showtime era and was head coach for part of the 1998-99 season. Jim Cleamons played his rookie season (1971-72) in purple and gold, while fellow assistant Rasheed Hazzard is the son of former Laker Walt Hazzard. Knicks President Phil Jackson guided L.A. to five championships from 2000 to 2010.