Knicks, Lakers Tip Off, Both Teams Hurting

[Reuters]

LOS ANGELES (Reuter) -- A pair of contending teams meet in
the Great Western Forum Sunday as the Los Angeles Lakers host
the New York Knicks in an interconference matchup.
Injuries will affect the makeup of both teams this
afternoon. The Lakers will be playing without center Shaquille
O'Neal and forward Robert Horry. The Knicks will be without
guard John Starks, who suffered a thigh contusion on Friday.
The Lakers improved to 4-3 without the injured O'Neal after
a 99-91 home win over the Vancouver Grizzlies on Friday. Eddie
Jones scored 23 points and Elden Campbell grabbed 12 rebounds.
Nick Van Exel has handed out 35 assists over the last four
games for the Lakers, who are 22-6 at home.
The Knicks had their seven-game winning streak snapped after
an 84-64 loss at Seattle on Friday. Allan Houston led the team
with just 11 points and Patrick Ewing was held to seven points
on 1-of-8 shooting.
Despite shooting .418 from the field, Houston is the team's
second-leading scorer with an average of 15.0 points for New
York, which is 15-10 on the road. The Knicks have six players
scoring in double figures.
The Lakers have won the last two meetings, including a 98-92
win in New York on November 5.