Lakers dominate Knicks for fourth straight win

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the New York Knicks for three quarters before squandering much of their lead and holding on for a 100-90 victory on Tuesday.

Kobe Bryant scored 34 points as last season's NBA champions cruised to a fourth successive win despite a poor fourth quarter.

The Knicks trailed by 25 points with 9:19 remaining but quickly cut the deficit with an 11-0 run against the Los Angeles bench players.

Nate Robinson and Wilson Chandler both had 15 points for the Knicks (3-11), who shot just 39 per cent and were out-rebounded 60-36. All of the Lakers starting five scored in double figures, but received little support from the bench.

The New Jersey Nets slid closer to the NBA's record of 17 losses to start a season by dropping their 14th game in a row falling to the Denver Nuggets 101-87.

Sparked

Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points while Nene Hilario added 17 to spark the Nuggets past the Nets, who fell to 0-14.

The Nets are trying to avoid the record worst winless start at 0-17 set by Miami in their inaugural 1988-89 season and matched by the Los Angeles Clippers in the strike-shortened 1998-99 season.

Road trip

Rafer Alston and Devin Harris each scored 19 points to lead New Jersey, which began a four-game western road trip with the loss. The Nets visit Portland, Sacramento and the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers.

If they don't win before they face Dallas at home, the Nets will be trying to avoid setting a new futility standard against the Mavericks.