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 On Sunday, he went with the same starters for the sixth time --
the most of any lineup in 48 games -- and the result was a Knicks
win for the fifth time in their last seven games, a 92-80 decision
over the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden.
Fisher started Ivan Calderon at point guard newcomer Langston
Galloway at the shooting guard, Carmelo Anthony and Lou Amundson at
the forwards and Jason Smith at center. This group has started in
five of the Knicks 10 wins this season.
Anthony topped the Knicks (10-38) with 31 points and eight rebounds,
Galloway tossed in 13 points and Amundson grabbed a season-high 13
rebounds, one off his career best.
Galloway has posted double-figures in points in seven of his 10
games this season.
Calderon contributed four assists and nine points and Smith tossed
in nine points.
 Los Angeles (13-35), which never led, has lost 10 of its last 11
games. The Lakers were paced by forward Carlos Boozer and guard
Jordan Clarkson, who each scored 19 points.
The win was just the Knicks' second by a double-digit margin this
season. They defeated the Denver Nuggets 109-93 on Nov. 16.
"We talked about the importance of starting the same guys a lot in
the early part of the season," said Fisher. "But we were just not
able to.
"Whenever healthy you always try and keep the same lineup. It's been
good to have these guys start. You're starting to see the benefits
of these five guys. The first quarters have been really solid for us
on several nights recently. If you can have a group that can be
solid at the beginning and then can finish a game, I think that's
good for us."
Fortunately for Fisher, he didn't need his starters on the floor for
much of the fourth quarter on Sunday. New York led by as many as 21
points in the period and the Lakers never got closer than the final
score.
Anthony helped establish the Knicks largest lead, 70-51, by scoring
seven straight points with 2: 44 left in the third. He poured in 18
points in the quarter.
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New York maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second
quarter before Clarkson's two free throws with 19 seconds left
brought the Lakers to within 47-39. Los Angeles struggled with its
shot in the first half, shooting only 26.8 percent
The Knicks shot 56 percent (14 of 25) in the first quarter and led
32-19. The Lakers committed six turnovers in the quarter and
connected on just five of their 20 shots from the floor.
"We fell behind and were never able to catch up," said Lakers coach
Byron Scott. "You can't fall behind that much and expect to win."
NOTES: The Knicks signed F Lou Amundson and F Lance Thomas to
contracts for the remainder of the season. They had been playing on
the second of two 10-day contracts since Jan. 10. ... New York
recalled F Cleanthony Early from the Westchester Knicks of the
Development League. ... The Knicks were without C Cole Aldrich
(contused left shin), C Amar'e Stoudemire (sprained left knee) and F
Travis Wear (strained left hip). ... Knicks coach Derek Fisher was
drafted by the Lakers in 1996 and won five NBA titles with Los
Angeles. ... F Kobe Bryant (rotator cuff surgery), G Steve Nash
(sciatic pain) and F Julius Randle (tibia fracture) did not dress
for the Lakers.
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