New York is 2-2 on its current six-game road trip. On Monday, Jamal Crawford scored 20 points to lead the Knicks over the Utah Jazz, 73-62, in a defensive struggle at the Delta Center.

The 62 points allowed were the lowest by the Knicks since the shot clock was introduced. Utah managed just eight points in the third quarter.

The Knicks, who have won consecutive games after opening the season with five straight losses, are scheduled to close out the road trip on Friday, as they play the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

The Lakers have lost three straight games and begin a five-game homestand tonight. They return to the Staples Center after going 1-3 on a four-game road trip.

On Monday, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Lakers 85-73 at home.Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles with 18 points. Chris Mihm added 11 points and 10 boards for the Lakers, who have dropped below the.500 mark(3-4) for the first time this season and shot only 32.5 persent from the floor.

The Lakers have won six of eight and nine of the last 13 meetings in this series. New York has lost three of four and six of its last eight at the Lakers.

This will be the first contest of the season between the clubs.The teams will meet once more in the 2005-06 campaign, as the Lakers are scheduled to visit the Knicks on January 31 next year at Madison Square Garden. Enditem