Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks during their Christmas Day matchup with a final score of 100-94. With the victory, the Lakers have finally reached the .500 mark and amassed their second-straight win ever since All Star point guard Steve Nash returned to the line-up. Nash missed 24 games after being sidelined with a fracture on his lower left leg.

He had 16 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds during the contest. The game saw the Knicks dominating most of the first half and leading by as much as nine points. Bryant and Nash then decided to ignite the silenced crowd by orchestrating a 17-9 run that got them within a point heading into the fourth quarter of play. Nash and Bryant combined for 15 points during the run, but Kobe missed two free throws that would have given the Lakers the lead towards the end of the third quarter.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 34 points and J.R. Smith added in 24 for New York who suddenly went cold down the stretch after controlling most of the game early on. A slew of missed shots and a technical foul called on Tyson Chandler would eventually make the Knicks lose their momentum and the game.