Kobe Bryant helps Lakers reach .500 with 100-94 win over Knicks

NOTES: Bryant surpassed Oscar Robertson as the league’s all-time Christmas Day scorer with 383 points. Robertson had 377. … Knicks F/C Amare Stoudemire shot some before the game. He’s been out all season after left knee surgery. “I’m not quite there yet, but I’m making progress,” he said. “I’ve just got to stay patient and stay ready. We’ve been doing extremely intense work, as far as cardio.” … Knicks C Marcus Camby had four points and four rebounds in 8 minutes. He’s been sidelined by a sore left foot and barely played this season. … Asked about Bryant as an MVP candidate, D'Antoni said, “You can’t put anybody MVP if you’re below .500.” … In their only other Christmas Day meeting in 1963, the Lakers beat the Knicks 134-126 behind 47 points by Jerry West and 27 from Elgin Baylor. … Nash said the gift bags in their lockers with the tag, “From Kobe Merry Xmas 2012” contained headphones. “Can’t ever have enough,” he said. … The Lakers were all in white, while the Knicks were all in orange down to their socks in a color similar to Syracuse. … Among the celebs holidaying at Staples Center were Rihanna and Chris Brown, Adam Levine, Samuel L. Jackson, George Lopez and Richard Lewis. Vanessa Bryant and her two young daughters sat courtside opposite the Lakers bench.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.