The AP reports: Kobe Bryant broke the current arena record with 61 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers looked plenty potent without Bynum in a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night… Bryant teased and pleased a sold-out crowd that took turns booing him and saluting him with “MVP!” chants during an electrifying performance. He passed Michael Jordan’s opponent record of 55 points at the present building, known as “Garden IV,” when he hit three free throws with 3:56 remaining, then bettered Bernard King’s mark of 60, set on Christmas Day 1984, with two more foul shots with 2:33 to play… Pau Gasol added 31 points and 14 rebounds in the Lakers’ first game since losing Bynum, their starting center, for eight to 12 weeks with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Category: New York Knicks Blog
Knicks blog – New York Knicks blog
Kobe putting on show in NY
Monday night in New York the Knicks are hosting the Los Angeles Lakers.
With 2:47 left in the first half Kobe has 29 points, and he’s doing it in mind-blowing fashion. Los Angeles leads 56-45.
Watch Knicks in 60 on MSG later tonight if you get the channel. It’s worth it.
Nets Brooklyn arena costs keep increasing
The New York Daily News (Jotham Sederstorm) reports: The stratospheric cost of protecting the Atlantic Yards from terrorist attacks could be the death knell for architect Frank Gehry’s flashy NBA basketball arena, the Daily News has learned. The bulletproof glass facade proposed for the glitzy arena will cost a mind-blowing $625 per square foot, a source familiar with the designs told The News. “I think the owners clearly didn’t have their financing tied down for this project, and that’s going to be the biggest hurdle,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the sky-high prices associated with securing the 850,000-square-foot arena against terrorism. “With the security concerns at the arena, there’s not much you can do to make it that much cheaper,” added the source.
Harrington’s 31 points leads Knicks past Pacers
The AP reports: Al Harrington felt right at home. The former Indiana Pacers forward put up 31 points and eight rebounds against his old team, helping the surging New York Knicks to a 122-113 victory over the Pacers on Saturday night… David Lee finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds, reserve Wilson Chandler had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Quentin Richardson scored 15 for the Knicks, who have won three straight and six of seven. New York (21-25) moved within two games of matching its win total from last season… T.J. Ford had a career-high 36 points, Danny Granger scored 19 and Mike Dunleavy and Stephen Graham each chipped in 14 for the Pacers. Indiana had its seven-game home winning streak snapped.
League denies exception for Mobley
The Bergen Record (Steve Adamek) reports (via blog): The Knicks’ appeal to get a disabled player salary-cap exception for Cuttino Mobley, which would not only have given them a nearly $4.5 million cap slot immediately to use either in a deal or to sign another player, but get his salary (for this season and next) off their cap and enable them to take him off their roster, was denied by the NBA late Friday, team president Donnie Walsh said Saturday morning. The league, Walsh said, essentially determined that Mobley’s heart condition, which forced him to retire shortly after the Knicks acquired him from the Clippers on Nov. 21, but with which he had played before that this season, was a pre-existing condition.
Nate Robinson leads Knicks past Hawks 112-104
The AP reports: Nate Robinson ‘s high-energy, high-flying style is the kind of play that pumps up a crowd. It’s probably not a coincidence that as the backup guard has broken out of a slump, the Knicks are rolling at home. Robinson had another big fourth quarter, scoring 20 of his 24 points in the final 10 minutes, to lead New York past the Atlanta Hawks 112-104 on Wednesday night… Marvin Williams had 28 points and Josh Smith added 26 for Atlanta. Point guard Mike Bibby scored just five points on 2-of-13 shooting… New York’s David Lee had his ninth straight double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Duhon had 16 points and 11 assists.
Knicks beat Rockets 104-98 as Chandler scores 18
The AP reports: Wilson Chandler was removed from the starting lineup after his recent struggles and responded with 18 points in a 104-98 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night. Fellow reserve Nate Robinson continued his strong play to lead New York with 19 points… The Rockets were playing without center Yao Ming (sore right knee) for the second straight game. Yao went out just as Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest were returning from injuries of their own. Artest (right ankle) had 24 points in Sunday’s win at Detroit, but struggled to 4-of-19 shooting against the Knicks. McGrady (left knee) had 20 points with more then five minutes left in the game then missed his last five shots.
Zach Marbury to Venezuela
The New York Times (David Waldstein) reports: Zach Marbury, who will turn 29 on Feb. 4, will dig out his passport later this week and fly to Venezuela after coming to terms on a one-season deal with Los Guaros De Lara in the gritty, physical Liga Profesional de Baloncesto, known as the L.P.B. It’s not the N.B.A. and it’s not even one of the more highly regarded leagues in the world. But it is professional basketball, and Zach Marbury, who like his brother is a point guard, says he is ready to do whatever it takes to participate again. “I just want to play,” Zach said Saturday in a telephone interview from Southern California, where he has been working out with his brother in preparation for his international career. “I feel I’m doing what I have to do to get to the N.B.A. “Do you think I want to go to Venezuela? No I don’t. But I have to because I believe it’s the path God has chosen for me, so I’m ready to accept and make the most of it.”
Former Eddy Curry girlfriend found murdered
The New York Daily News reports: Knicks center Eddy Curry’s 3-year-old son witnessed his mother and baby-sister’s murders in their Chicago apartment Saturday, according to a source close to Curry. Nova Henry, 24, a former girlfriend of Curry’s, and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, were found shot dead by Henry’s mother around 6 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. Curry’s son was found unharmed inside the South Side apartment, but his father was still described as “despondent” Saturday night. The killer is a “known acquaintance,” said Chicago Police Officer Amina Greer.
The AP reports: Police believe the killings near the city’s South Side were the result of a domestic dispute, Bond said. She would not elaborate. Rob Bryant, who said he was Nova Henry’s uncle, told the Chicago Sun-Times that Henry had a restraining order against her boyfriend.
Brand returns, Iguodala scores 24 as 76ers beat Knicks
The AP reports: Elton Brand eased back into the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup and the result was familiar: another victory. Andre Iguodala scored 24 points and Andre Miller added 21 as the Sixers welcomed the return of Brand with a 116-110 win—their eighth in nine games— over the New York Knicks on Saturday night. Brand, who missed 16 games after dislocating his right shoulder on Dec. 17, had six points in 13 minutes off the bench. He entered the game for the first time with 1:26 left in the first quarter… Thaddeus Young added 17 points, Willie Green had 14 and Samuel Dalembert had 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Sixers, who moved back to .500 at 21-21. Philadelphia beat New York for the third straight time, and has won 12 of 14 against the Knicks… Nate Robinson scored 26 points, Tim Thomas added 24 and David Lee had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, whose three-game winning streak ended. New York has not had a winning streak longer than three games this season.