Lakers vs. Knicks: Lakers defeat New York

Final: Lakers 100, Knicks 90

It sounds strange to say and even write, but the Lakers had to hold on for the victory.

They once led by 25 points in the fourth, but the lead was cut to eight points late in the fourth before the Lakers won their fourth straight game.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 34 points, five rebounds and four assists.

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Third quarter: Lakers 83, Knicks 62

The Lakers went on a 17-0 run to extend their lead to 24 points.

All five Laker starters had scored in double figures by the end of the third quarter.

Kobe Bryant led the way with 30 points on 13-for-30 shooting.

Ron Artest shows up to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' in his underwear

It's reassuring to know Ron Artest feels comfortable in Los Angeles.

On Monday night, Artest paid a visit to "Jimmy Kimmel Live" wearing only a fancy hairdo and his underwear. He blamed his compromised attire on "running late," but I'm sure it was just Artest's way of channeling his inner Dennis Rodman.

At least he didn't show up in a wedding dress and try to sing karaoke. Check out the video:

-- Austin Knoblauch

Lakers' Odom gives back to community

Lamar Odom, known among his teammates as a caring and giving person, reached out to the local community Monday after Lakers practice, visiting the City of Hope in Duarte.

Odom, along with his wife, reality TV star Khloe Kardashian, visited a children's cancer unit in Duarte and passed out toys and passed along the holiday spirit.

Odom did the event through his charity, Cathy's Kids Foundation, which he has dedicated to underprivileged youth and to cancer research.

Odom started the foundation in 2004 in memory of his mother, Cathy Mercer, who died from cancer when he was 12.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Lamar Odom and wife Khloe Kardashian arrive for a benefit in Los Angeles last month. Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Lakers prepare for high-scoring Knicks

The Lakers have won their last three games, by 13, 15 and 16 points.

The 16-point victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night looked easy.

But the Lakers aren't looking at every opponent that way.

Sure, their next opponent, the New York Knicks, are one of the worst teams in the NBA.

But the Lakers had a practice Monday in which they went hard.

"It's about peaks and valleys," Kobe Bryant said. "A couple of games we might struggle, then we pick it back up."

The Knicks are averaging 101.4 points per game, ninth best in the NBA.

But the Knicks are giving up 107.9 points, the second most in the NBA.

-- Broderick Turner

Lakers roll past the Thunder, 101-85

The Lakers drubbed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 101-85, this evening at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant had 26 points, including a pair of difficult-to-fathom shots that delighted the crowd.

Pau Gasol, in his second game back from a hamstring injury, had 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Andrew Bynum had 25 points on nine-for-11 shooting.

The shot of the game, if not the month, happened with 2:01 left in the first quarter. Bryant was being pushed to the baseline by Thunder rookie James Harden, so he shot from behind the basket at an impossible angle. The ball went over the backboard and through the hoop, leading to a burst of noise from the crowd.

For good measure, Bryant picked up a loose ball in the final seconds of the first quarter and scored on a hurried 15-foot fling.

-- MIke Bresnahan

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant pulls up for a shot over Thunder guard James Harden -- and the backboard. The shot went in. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Lakers' Andrew Bynum misses another practice

For the second consecutive day, Lakers center Andrew Bynum was unable to practice because of an injured ankle.

Bynum, who rolled his right ankle during Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bulls, said after Friday's practice that he would play Sunday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center.

But Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said after practice Saturday that they weren't "sure" if Bynum would play.

Bynum will be a game-time decision.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Lakers center Andrew Bynum gets inside Chicago's defense for a layup on Thursday night. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Lakers' Andrew Bynum injured ... but not too seriously

Just when the Lakers thought they had a healthy starting frontcourt ...

Center Andrew Bynum rolled his right ankle while playing defense against Brad Miller in Thursday's victory over the Chicago Bulls. Bynum was called for a foul on the play.

"I've been getting a lot of treatment on it," Bynum said today. "It stiffened up this morning."

Bynum, however, said he would play Sunday against Oklahoma City.

-- MIke Bresnahan

Lakers' Luke Walton has back procedure

Lakers forward Luke Walton had a surgical procedure Wednesday to treat a pinched nerve in his back, the team said.

Walton had a facet rhizotomy performed by Dr. Michael Port. In the procedure, an electrode is inserted next to the inflamed nerve and the tip is heated to deaden the nerve signal in that spot in the spine.

Walton is expected to miss about six weeks.

-- Barry Stavro

Lakers' Pau Gasol says he'll play Thursday against Bulls

Pau Gasol, who missed the first 11 regular-season games with a strained right hamstring, said after practice today that he will play Thursday night.

Gasol had a good practice and said he felt comfortable enough to play against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center.

Gasol has missed a little over five weeks with the injury, which he sustained during training camp.

When asked if he was a go for Thursday night's game, Gasol responded:

"I really hope so. I really do. I think that I'll be able to go tomorrow. It felt great today."

Gasol said  he is concerned about his conditioning and wasn't sure how many minutes he would play.

"I'd be happy if he played 25," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said about the minutes he expects to play Gasol.

-- Broderick Turner

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Photo: Pau Gasol. : Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Lakers Luke Walton out six weeks because of pinched nerve

The Lakers announced today that reserve forward Luke Walton has a pinched nerve in his back and will be out at least six weeks.

 Walton, in his seventh season with the team, missed practice today because of a sore back. He was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins.

Walton, 29, is averaging 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and about 11 minutes a game this season.

His injury is likely to give reserve forward Josh Powell additional playing time.

--Barry Stavro

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Photo: Luke Walton of the Lakers steals the ball from Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks during a Nov. 1 game. Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images.