With a bad case of Linsanity safely in the rearview mirror the Los Angeles Lakers will get back to business and finish their annual Grammy Road Trip north of the border against the Toronto Raptors.
The Lakers served as nothing more than a speed bump for Jeremy Lin on Friday as the Harvard product's coming out party continued when he dropped in a career-high 38 points with seven assists and four rebounds, as the Knicks downed Los Angeles, 92-85, at Madison Square Garden.
Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and pulled down 10 boards for the Lakers, but it was not enough for LA to avoid its third loss in four games and its first setback in 10 games against New York.
Pau Gasol added 16 points and 10 rebounds while Andrew Bynum struggled against the Knicks' Tyson Chandler, netting just three points.
"You have got to give [Lin] credit. He played a terrific ball game and he was the difference in the ball game," Lakers head coach Mike Brown said. "I don't ever remember anybody getting to the rim for that many layups against us."
LA is 2-3 on its current trek and just 4-10 overall as the visitor on the season.
The Raptors, meanwhile, snapped a three-game skid and improved to 1-1 on a seven-game homestand, topping Boston on Friday, 86-74, behind DeMar DeRozan's 21 points at Air Canada Centre.
It was a modicum of revenge for Toronto, which was routed by the Celtics 100-64 back on Feb. 1
"It was a message," said DeRozan. "The last time we played these guys we got embarrassed. We knew we had to come out and play with pride. It just shows we can beat any team in the league when we play like that."
Jose Calderon and Amir Johnson each contributed their sixth double-double of the season for the Raptors. Calderon netted 17 points and dished out 14 assists in the victory, while Johnson put up 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
Toronto, which is 4-7 at ACC and will also host New York, San Antonio, Charlotte and Detroit on its residency, continues to play without injured star Andrea Bargnani, who is sidelined with a strained left calf. Guard Jerryd Bayless also is doubtful for Sunday's game with a sprained left ankle.
The Lakers have won three straight and seven of eight overall vs. the Dinos.