The New York Knicks try to rebound from their first loss of the season on Thursday when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in California (10:30 p.m. ET/TNT). The 1-1 Knicks dropped their first game of the season on Wednesday, falling 92-78 to the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers come into the contest at 1-2 on the young season.
After dropping their first two games of the season to the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings, the Lakers notched their first win of the season on Tuesday at home against the Utah Jazz in their third game in as many nights. The Knicks are in the midst of a crowded schedule of their own, as they’ll play three games in four nights on a West Coast swing that wraps up on Saturday in Sacramento.
New York struggled from the field in the loss to the Warriors, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire particularly. The two Knicks’ stars combined to go just 8-of-27 from the field, with Anthony making just three field goals. Newly-acquired center Tyson Chandler got into foul trouble, finishing with just two points and three rebounds. The Knicks won’t win many games with that sort of production from their frontline, and certainly would struggle vs. the Lakers if that were the case again tonight.
The Lakers are in a transition even though they still have two of the best players in the sport in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Gone is ultimate glue-guy Lamar Odom, traded to the Dallas Mavericks (and not really replaced quite yet), and former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown now runs the sideline upon the retirement of Phil Jackson.
This will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The Lakers visit the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Feb. 10.