LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Allan Houston scored a career- and NBA season-high 53 points Sunday night as the New York Knicks overcame another brilliant performance by Kobe Bryant for a 117-110 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers, who were unexpectedly missing injured All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal.
It was the first 50-point game by a Knick since Patrick Ewing scored 50 against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 1, 1990. Houston tied Willis Reed's production at Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 1967 for the fourth-most in the team's history.
The tally by Houston, who hit 18 of 29 from the field and 13 of 15 from the line, came four days after Bryant scored 51 at Denver. Bryant scored 40 in this one, his ninth straight game with at least 35 and franchise record-tying fifth in a row with at least 40, matching Elgin Baylor's mark durng the 1962-63 campaign.
But the Lakers were missing O'Neal, who is day-to-day with a sore left knee. His replacement, Samaki Walker, was held scoreless, and starting forwards Rick Fox and Robet Horry combined for just 14 points.
New York had a mere three-point lead three minutes into the fourth quarter after Brian Shaw made back-to-back three-pointers. But Clarence Weatherspoon countered with two free throws with 8:43 left to trigger a 15-4 run over the next 4 1/2 minutes and the Lakers got no closer than five points down the stretch.
Latrell Sprewell scored 14 points and Othella Harrington 10 for the Knicks, who shot 54 percent as they improved to 2-0 on their six-game Western road trip.
Derek Fisher contributed 21 points, Brian Shaw 16 and Devean George 14 for the Lakers, who lost their second straight home game following a season-high seven-game road trip.
