The Los Angeles Lakers shut down the high-energy New York Knicks to power to their fourth straight victory in a 109-87 triumph on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Pau Gasol added 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers (27-11), who held New York to their second lowest points total of the season.
The Knicks, who entered the game averaging a league-best 108.1 points per game, shot just 36 percent from the field as they had their three-game win streak snapped.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“We played good team defense and took them out of their comfort zones,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom told reporters after finishing with 13 points and 18 rebounds. “We just tried to play hard tonight and play a tough game. We were able to do that and get the win.”
Los Angeles led by six points at halftime, but stretched their lead to 16 in the third quarter, when Bryant began things with consecutive three-pointers.
The Knicks trimmed the lead to eight early in the fourth, but went long stretches without scoring in the final period when they tallied just 17 points and fell far behind.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Amare Stoudemire had 23 points and 10 rebounds, but made just seven of 24 shots, and Wilson Chandler added 19 for New York (21-15).
The Knicks were playing the second of a four-game Western Conference road trip and had demolished Phoenix 121-96 on Friday.
New York have emerged as a threat this season after signing Stoudemire in the summer, but they still have not beaten the Lakers since 2007. Los Angeles dominated inside with a 61-42 rebounding advantage and controlled a physical and sometimes testy contest.
HEAT 107, TRAIL BLAZERS 100 OT
In Portland, Oregon, LeBron James had 44 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Dwyane Wade added 34 points as the Miami Heat beat the Portland Trail Blazers in overtime.
James buried two deep three-pointers and made two free throws in the extra period for the Heat (30-9), who have won 21 of their last 22 games after a slow start to the season.
Chris Bosh added 18 points and eight rebounds. The Big Three combined for all but 11 of Miami’s points.
The victory was the Heat’s 13th straight on the road. Miami are now three road wins away from tying the NBA record held by the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 31 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Blazers.
HORNETS 96, NUGGETS 87
In Denver, Colorado, Carmelo Anthony scored just eight points and was booed by the home crowd as New Orleans beat the Nuggets in one of the worst performances of the superstar’s career.
The loss put a sour finish on a day filled with speculation that Anthony’s departure from Denver was close after seven-and-a-half seasons. A person with knowledge of the discussions told reporters on Sunday night the Nuggets were closing in on a deal that would send Anthony to New Jersey in a three-team trade.
RAPTORS 118, KINGS 112
In Toronto, Andrea Bargnani scored 30 points and DeMar DeRozan had 28 to help Toronto hold off lowly Sacramento.
Leandro Barbosa added 18 points — including 11 in the fourth quarter — for the Raptors, who had dropped 13 of their previous 17 games.
After DeMarcus Cousins scored on a dunk, a tip-in and a layup to bring the Kings to within one point with 1 minute, 6 seconds remaining, Bargnani made a three-pointer and Barbosa grabbed the rebound on a missed three at the other end to seal the victory.
Beno Udrih scored 25 points and Carl Landry had 22 for the Kings, who dropped their 10th straight road game.
CLIPPERS 105, WARRIORS 91
In Los Angeles, Eric Gordon scored 25 points, while Blake Griffin had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Clippers over Golden State.
Baron Davis added 17 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who won for the seventh time in 10 games after a 5-21 start to the season.
In other NBA play, it was:
‧ Spurs 94, Timberwolves 91
‧ Suns 108, Cavaliers 100
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