Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points and the New York Knicks spoiled what might have been Kobe Bryant's last game at Madison Square Garden, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 99-95 on Sunday.
Bryant finished with 18 points, far off the 30.7 per game he had been averaging here and fewer than half the 40 or more he managed on three occasions during a series of highlights in the arena.
The 37-year-old superstar, who hasn't said if he will retire after this season, missed two shots and twice fouled Anthony during New York's 11-0 run that turned a three-point deficit into a 98-90 lead.
Jose Calderon, Robin Lopez and Langston Galloway all scored 14 points for the Knicks, who snapped a three-game losing streak with their first home victory of the season.
Galloway made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:01 left and Bryant missed from behind the arc about 20 seconds later. He then fouled Anthony, who made both free throws to make it 94-90, and later fouled him again on a jumper as the lead grew to 98-90.
Bryant played until the finish, waving his arm to the crowd as he exited into the tunnel to loud cheers.
