By GREG BEACHAM

Posted Nov 25 2009 1:10AM

LOS ANGELES(AP) Kobe Bryant scored 34 points, Pau Gasol added 11 points and 16 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers exploited a major size advantage in their fourth straight victory, 100-90 over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

Ron Artest scored 17 points for the Lakers, who took control of their eighth win in 10 meetings with New York by scoring 17 consecutive points in the third while holding the Knicks scoreless for nearly 7 1/2 minutes.

Andrew Bynum added 17 points and eight rebounds on an injured right ankle, although he barely needed to jump while helping Los Angeles to a 60-36 rebounding advantage over New York's undersized front line.

Nate Robinson and Wilson Chandler scored 15 points apiece for the Knicks, who opened a three-game West Coast swing with their fifth straight loss to the defending NBA champions.

Los Angeles led by 24 in the third quarter before New York's late rally against the Lakers' reserves trimmed another potential blowout to respectability. Los Angeles also committed 25 turnovers, but the Lakers still haven't really been challenged in three games since Gasol's return from injury.

Bryant set a Madison Square Garden record with 61 points in the teams' last meeting, but the Lakers needed much less help to beat New York on the other coast for their 10th win in 12 games.

Chandler's 5-for-20 shooting performance didn't help, but size was the most obvious offensive problem for the Knicks. The Lakers' advantages were obvious from the opening jump ball, when 7-footers Gasol and Bynum looked down on 6-foot-9 center David Lee and 6-10 Danilo Gallinari. Even 6-10 reserve Lamar Odom grabbed 12 rebounds for Los Angeles.

The entire evening got off to a poor start for the Knicks, whose team bus carrying coach Mike D'Antoni didn't arrive at Staples Center until less than an hour before game time, slowed by Westside traffic from the team's hotel in Santa Monica.

Los Angeles finished the first half on a 15-4 run to take a 10-point lead. The Lakers then turned a 59-52 advantage into a 24-point margin with a relentless series of baskets and defense, with Bryant leading the way on both ends.

Bryant then hit a fallaway 3-pointer and a tough jumper in the final seconds of the quarter, although Robinson made a double-clutch 3-pointer from near midcourt at the buzzer to cut Los Angeles' lead to 21.

NOTES: Bryant returns to the Garden on Jan. 22. He made 20 free throws without a miss in his 61-point game last February. ... Stevie Wonder, comedians George Lopez and Richard Lewis, and actor Jason Patric attended the game.

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson on the Lakers rebounding advantage:
“They weren’t shooting the ball very well and we were able to board.”

On what contributed to the high turnover total:
“I think it was just we tried to lob the ball to Drew and he had no space to go get the basketball. Things like that happen. We tried to force the ball in to Kobe where guys are sagging in.”

On the Lakers’ three point shooting:
“I think once it becomes a focus, players start becoming better at three point shooting. We’re not a team that spends a lot of time focusing on three point shooting. There’s some things that happen with our three point shooting that obviously get rhythm as the game goes through the season and it will get better as we go. You have to shoot 35% to feel comfortable about that. Otherwise it’s too many shots or not good rhythm shots. Get it back inside – we have too many good inside players.”

On the performance of Lamar Odom:
“He’ll find his way. He had twelve rebounds tonight. That part of his game was good. He had five assists, which is okay.”

On the role of Sasha Vujacic and when he expects to use him:
“I think a lot of it has to do with matchups as we come out as a team. With the type of guard core we have, with the type of bench we have, a lot of it is about who is going to match up well and the type of game that is being played against us.”

Lakers Kobe Bryant on Phil Jacksons comment that they “need to clean up” their game:
“Yes we have to make sure that everybody is on the same page with our defense and in our intensity in execution. Our second unit really did a good job for the most part.”

On playing 40 minutes in a game that was seemingly under control:
“…They’re a big momentum team so if they knocked down a couple threes then they stay in the game. If they’re down 16, 20 points and they knock down a couple of threes, they’re right back in.

On playing the Knicks tonight:
“We did good. We played great defensively for about 3 and half quarters. We have a tough one coming up. We’re going to Golden State after our Thanksgiving feast.

Lakers’ Andrew Bynum on how much easier is it now that Pau Gasol is back:
“It’s been pretty easy. We haven’t had too much size out there. So we had to adjust to it and do things with it.”

On playing against the Knicks:
“I wasn’t bored out there. That’s for sure. I was trying to get the referees on my side.”

Lakers’ Pau Gasol on whether the team is lacking intensity:
“[We’re] just playing basketball together. Don’t try to score too much or try to put up numbers. Just play basketball and just enjoy being out there and enjoy that the team is winning and do a good job and just work better as a team ultimately.”

On Phil Jackson’s comment that they “need to clean up” their game:
“We have to do a better job and put in the effort. There are some lazy passes some of the time. The intensity level just winds down and if we continue to play hard for 48 minutes and play together as a team. All of that will come down and we’re going to be able to finish the games a lot better.”

New York Knicks’ player Wilson Chandler on how the Lakers shut down their offense:
“They were really aggressive on defense, made it hard for us to catch the ball easy. They pushed our offense back a little farther back than we usually do so it was harder to get a decent shot.”

On how the Knicks guarded Kobe tonight:
“I think Larry did a great job. You know, Kobe is Kobe. You see that day in and day out. It’s tough to go out there and say we are going to shut down Kobe.

New York Knicks’ player David Lee on the Lakers:
“I think, and it’s only my opinion, but I think they’re the best team in the league. I think until somebody proves otherwise, at this point they’re the best team in the league because of their depth and the weapons that they have.”

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN

Posted Nov 23 2009 12:45PM

With Pau Gasol having returned to action, Kobe Bryant hasn't been forced to shoulder as much of the scoring load in the last two games for the Los Angeles Lakers. Maybe that will help the New York Knicks contain Bryant this time around.

Bryant faces the Knicks for the first time since a spectacular 61-point performance in February as the Lakers try for a fourth straight victory Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Los Angeles (10-3) got an average of 31.0 points from Bryant during its 8-3 start without an injured Gasol, who returned and had 24 points and 13 boards last Friday in a 108-93 win over Chicago. Gasol had 15 points in Sunday's 101-85 rout of Oklahoma City.

With their starting power forward back, the Lakers haven't had to rely on Bryant as much. He's averaged 23.5 points the last two games.

"He can facilitate offense for everybody else too," said Bryant about Gasol. "He's not just a great scorer. He's a great passer. He has great IQ, great vision. Not only me, it makes everybody's job a lot easier."

New York (3-10) gave up 31 points to Gasol in a 126-117 loss to Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2009, but it was Bryant's 61 that was the story. Bryant made 19 of 31 shots and all 20 free throws to set a Madison Square Garden record.

"He was on fire from the start and finished the game almost the same way," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said after the game. "That was a remarkable performance."

Los Angeles has won four straight against New York, which is beginning a three-game trip in a building in which it has had little success. The Knicks are 3-17 overall at Staples Center, although all of the victories have come against the Lakers. The Knicks are 0-10 there against the Clippers.

"It makes it tough, because we're on the road right now in the West," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "That's not fun. There are a lot of games, just as long as we keep playing and keep playing hard."

The Knicks have won back-to-back road games, but couldn't make it three in a row overall Sunday with a 107-105 overtime home loss to Boston. Al Harrington scored 30 points and David Lee added 22 and 15 rebounds.

Harrington's team-high 20.9 scoring average leads all reserves.

New York is allowing an average of 107.9 points, and will be facing a Los Angeles attack averaging 105.0 during its three-game win streak. The Lakers are among the league leaders with 23.8 assists per game and Bryant and Gasol combined for 13 in Sunday's win.

"I thought there were some inspiring basketball actions tonight," Jackson said. "There were some things that we felt we did really well defensively."

Andrew Bynum scored 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting and could be poised to take advantage of New York's weak interior defense. Since missing two games this month with a strained right elbow, Bynum is averaging 19.8 points and 11.7 rebounds in six games.

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Andrew Bynum (jammed right ankle) is probable.
Luke Walton (pinched nerve, back) is out.

Jared Jeffries (sore right knee) is questionable.

SEASON & SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS
The Lakers swept last season’s series with the Knicks 2-0 for the second consecutive year and have now won seven of their last nine games against New York. Dating back to the Minneapolis era, this will be the teams’ 270th meeting and the 179th since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles prior to the 1960-61 season. In their last 10 overall games, the Lakers have gone 7-3 against the Knicks. At home, the Lakers are 7-3 all-time against the Knicks at STAPLES Center. In New York, the Lakers have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games at Madison Square Garden. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 13-5 against New York. In their most recent meeting, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant scored a Madison Square Garden record 61 points, converting 19-of-31 field goals including a franchise record for free throws without a miss (20). Bryant’s 20 free throws without a miss tied for the 2nd most in NBA history without a miss behind Dominique Wilkins 23-23 effort in December of 1992. It was the 5th time Bryant has scored 40+ points at MSG with his 61 points surpassing Michael Jordan’s 55-point opponent record and Bernard King’s 60-point building record. Four seasons ago on January 31, 2006, the Lakers established a series record for largest margin of victory with a 130-97 win over the Knicks at MSG. In that contest, Bryant led all scorers with 40 points while tying his own franchise record with 23 free throws made. Additionally, Bryant’s 23 made free throws established a MSG record while his 26 attempts tied the building record. In 24 career games (20 starts) against the Knicks, Bryant is averaging 25.9 points. Additionally, Lamar Odom (Christ the King HS in Queens, NY) is a native of New York while Andrew Bynum (St. Joseph HS in Metuchen, NJ) is from nearby New Jersey. Ron Artest was born in Queensbridge, NY, teamed with Elton Brand and Odom on the same AAU team in the city as a teenager and attended both high school (La Salle Academy) and college (St. John’s) in New York, NY. Head Coach Phil Jackson was originally drafted by the Knicks in the 2nd round of the 1967 NBA Draft and was a member of New York’s 1970 and 1973 NBA Championship teams.

BRYANT NAMED WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR 1st TIME THIS SEASON
After three Western Conference Player of the Week awards in each of the past two seasons, Kobe Bryant earned his FIRST WC Player of the week award this season for games played Monday, November 16 through Sunday, November 22. The award is the 25th of Bryant’s career (23 Western Conference POW, 2 NBA POW), surpassing Magic Johnson’s 18 NBA POW awards as the franchise all-time leader. Bryant led the Lakers to a 3-0 week, which included wins over the Pistons, Bulls and Thunder, averaging 29.0 points on 48 percent shooting, 6.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists, 1.67 steals. During the week, Bryant recorded his 4th 40-point game of the season with 40 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals 11/17 vs. Detroit, nearly missed a triple-double with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists 11/19 vs. Chicago and totaled 26 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists including a HORSE-like, Larry Bird-esque shot from behind the backboard 11/22 vs. Oklahoma City.

This is the 23rd time Bryant has earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors (11/4/01, 1/20/02, 11/3/02, 12/8/02, 1/12/03, 2/2/03, 2/23/03, 2/17/04, 3/22/04, 11/13/05, 12/18/05, 12/25/05, 1/22/06, 4/16/06, 3/18/07, 3/25/07, 1/13/08, 3/2/08, 4/6/08, 12/28/08, 1/11/09, 3/15/09, 11/22/09) since the award was separated by Conference. He has twice earned NBA Player of the Week honors (4/16/00 and 12/24/00), giving him 25 total career Player of the Week awards.

BRYANT MOVES PAST ABDUL-JABBAR ON LAKERS ALL-TIME FRANCHISE SCORING LIST
With his free throw at the 6:07 mark of the third quarter November 19th vs. Chicago, Kobe Bryant moved past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24,176) for 2nd on the Lakers all-time franchise scoring list. While only Jerry West (25,192) has scored more points with the Lakers than Bryant (24,208), at his current scoring average (29.8 ppg), Bryant would surpass West approximately 34 games from now 1/29/10 at Philadelphia. Earlier this month, with 41 points November 6th against Memphis, Bryant moved past Allen Iverson (24,020) for 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Bryant has been steadily moving up the list the last few years and last season alone, moved past Charles Barkley (23,757) for 17th, Robert Parish (23,334) for 18th, Adrian Dantley (23,177) for 19th, Elgin Baylor (23,149) for 20th, Clyde Drexler (22,195) for 21st, Gary Payton (21,813) for 22nd and Larry Bird (21,791) for 23rd. Next on the NBA’s all-time list ahead of Bryant (24,208) are Patrick Ewing (24,815) and Jerry West (25,192).

40-POINT GAMES
Kobe Bryant scored 40 points 11/17/09 vs. Detroit, marking the 100th time in his career that he has scored 40+ points in a game and the 4th time this season, matching his total for all of last season (4). Bryant’s 46 points February 1, 2008 at Toronto moved him past Elgin Baylor (88 40+ games) for 3rd all-time and into 1st in Lakers franchise history. In the history of the NBA, only two players have more career 40-point games: Wilt Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173). The Lakers are now 69-31 all- time in games that Bryant scores 40+ points and are 4-0 in such games this season. Bryant holds the Lakers franchise record for 40-point games in a single season, recording 27 during the 2005-06 campaign. Bryant also holds the franchise record for most consecutive 40-point games (9), established during the 2002-03 season, which is tied for the fourth longest such streak in NBA history (Michael Jordan) behind Wilt Chamberlain, who twice posted streaks of 14 and once had a 10-game streak.

JACKSON PASSES LARRY BROWN FOR 5th ON THE ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES LIST
A season after earning his record 10th NBA Championship as a head coach, Phil Jackson (1,051) moved past Charlotte Bobcats head coach Larry Brown (1,049) for 5th on the NBA’s all-time coaching win list with a victory over the Detroit Pistons on November 17th. The only coach in league history to win better than 70 percent of his games (.706), Jackson ranks 12th in all-time regular season games coached and 1st in playoff games coached (300), won (209) and playoff winning percentage (.697). Last season, Jackson became the fastest coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 career victories, needing 1,423 games to reach the mark. Earning induction in his first year of consideration, on September 7, 2007, Jackson was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Only Jerry Sloan (4th), Pat Riley (3rd), Don Nelson (2nd) and Lenny Wilkens (1st) have more career victories than Brown and Jackson while of the top six, Jackson has coached 1,000+ fewer games than Wilkens, 800+ fewer games than Nelson, nearly 500 fewer games than Riley and roughly 400 fewer games than Sloan and Brown.

BYNUM’S STRONG START
With 44 double-doubles and 13 20+ point games entering 2009-10, Andrew Bynum has already posted EIGHT double-doubles and SIX 20+ point games in 11 games this season. Among the top 10 leaders in double-doubles, Bynum, who currently ranks 4th league-wide behind Chris Bosh (11), Carlos Boozer (9) and Dwight Howard (9), has played the fewest games. Additionally, with his current averages of 19.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.73 blocks over 37.0 minutes, Bynum ranks 6th league-wide in efficiency (minimum 10 games) with a 25.6 rating behind LeBron James (31.8), Chris Paul (29.3), Bosh (28.9), Dirk Nowitzki (27.7) & Carmelo Anthony (26.3). NBA.com evaluates all players based on the efficiency formula: ((Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) - ((FG Att. - FG Made) + (FT Att. - FT Made) + Turnovers)).