Lakers 99, Knicks 82
Kobe Bryant scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Lakers evened their record with a 99-82 victory over the visiting New York Knicks on Thursday night at Staples Center.
The Lakers (2-2) have won nine in a row over the Knicks and have not lost to them since 1997.
Pau Gasol had 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Steve Blake scored 11, nine coming on 3-pointers.
Bryant had all of his points through three quarters on 10 of 15 shooting and sparked the Lakers with a four-point play in the third. Los Angeles shot 71.9 percent in the second quarter to take a 63-51 halftime lead.
Carmelo Anthony led New York with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Amar'e Stoudemire scored 15, but made just four of 17 shots.
Tyson Chandler had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Knicks (1-2) lost both games in their first back-to-back of the season. They stayed in the game mainly on free throws, making 34 of 41.
The Lakers' bench outscored the Knicks' reserves 40-17.