Bryant sets record

Kobe Bryant scored 39 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000, and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers held off New York Knicks.

Bryant added 11 rebounds and 8 assists in his first game at the 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.

"I always like playing here, period," Bryant said. "Last year I didn't have an opportunity to play and I was upset about it. This is my favorite arena to play in so I'm just happy and relieved that I was able to play tonight."

Before Bryant, who was suspended last year when the Lakers came to New York, only Wilt Chamberlain (29 years, 134 days) and Michael Jordan (29, 326) had gotten to 20,000 points before turning 30.

Bryant's last basket came in the final minute after the Knicks had trimmed a 25-point deficit to one.

Jamal Crawford scored 31 points for the Knicks.

The Knicks staged a fourth-quarter comeback, and Crawford scored 9 straight points for New York. Two free throws by David Lee cut the Lakers' lead to 91-90 with 1:55 remaining. Crawford later missed with a chance to give New York what would have been its first lead, and Bryant's soft jumper fell in with 57 seconds left.