SoCal NBA Preview

LA Lakers (16-10) at New York (8-18), 9:00 am
NEW YORK (Ticker) - After a one-game reprieve from a growing contingent of fans who want to see their coach fired, the New York Knicks return to Madison Square Garden to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

Before the Knicks routed the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, 108-90, a group of people gathered outside MSG to demand that New York coach Isiah Thomas be fired for his team's inept performance this season. Just a day earlier, Thomas called the team's heart into question. However, the Knicks were unable to continue the momentum on Friday, losing 105-95 to the Charlotte Bobcats in a game that was rarely ever in question as the Bobcats led by as many as 29 in the third quarter. Nate Robinson scored 20 points for the Knicks, who have not been able to string together consecutive wins since November 24 and 26. In a season already full of controversy for the Knicks, Thomas had a heated exchange with guard Quentin Richardson during a timeout in the third quarter and had to be restrained by assistant coach Herb Williams.

The Lakers are 2-1 on a four-game road trip which concludes with this contest. Andrew Bynum, among the NBA's most improved players, scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 106-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Kobe Bryant added 19 points against the Sixers. The superstar has been held under 20 points in consecutive games for the first time since the opening week of last season.