NEW YORK (AP) -Kobe Bryant scored 39 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the New York Knicks 95-90 Sunday.
Bryant added 11 rebounds and eight assists in his first game at Madison Square Garden in nearly two years. His 3-pointer in the opening minute of the third quarter allowed him to reach the milestone at 29 years, 122 days.
Bryant’s last basket came in the final minute after the Knicks had trimmed a 25-point deficit to one. The victory capped a 3-1 road trip for the Lakers, who headed home to host Phoenix on Christmas Day.
Jamal Crawford scored 31 for the Knicks, who were again without Stephon Marbury and have lost eight of 10. David Lee had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Nate Robinson scored 16 points.
Andrew Bynum had 13 points for the Lakers, playing without forward Luke Walton (ankle).
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