NEW YORK — Kobe Bryant knew Andrew Bynum was out, and potential taunts from Spike Lee and Mike D'Antoni could be ahead.

That gave him plenty of incentive to deliver a special night at Madison Square Garden — and he unleashed the biggest game the present building has seen.

Bryant broke the current arena record with 61 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers looked plenty potent without Bynum in a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks last night.

"It's a blessing to do what you love and to have moments like this," Bryant said.

Bryant teased and pleased a sold-out crowd that took turns booing him and saluting him with "MVP!" chants during an electrifying performance. He passed Michael Jordan's opponent record of 55 points at the present building, known as "Garden IV," when he hit three free throws with 3:56 remaining, then bettered Bernard King's mark of 60, set on Christmas Day 1984, with two more foul shots with 2:33 to play.

Bryant, who also finished with the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, left to a loud ovation after the 24th 50-point game of his career. It was also his fifth 40-point game here, where the Knicks played their first game in February 1968.

It saved him from a rough night with Lee, the director and Knicks superfan he is working on a project with.

"On a lighter note, I'm going to review this documentary I'm doing with Spike Lee tonight after the game and I didn't feel like sitting next to him and hearing him talking trash about the Knicks, so that was added incentive as well," Bryant said. "Seriously. He's going to get an earful tonight."

D'Antoni might, too. He's a rival from past postseasons when he was coaching Phoenix and playfully sparred with Bryant as an assistant with the U.S. Olympic team this summer. Bryant said not to underestimate his desire to quiet the coach.

"We tried to do the rope-a-dope a little bit where he might shoot himself out, but he didn't," D'Antoni said.

Pau Gasol added 31 points and 14 rebounds in the Lakers' first game since losing Bynum, their starting center, for eight to 12 weeks with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

They'll be fine without him if Bryant plays the way he did yesterday, going 19 of 31 with an array of tough jumpers, powerful drives to the basket and perfect foul shooting. He also hit all 20 free throws.

"He was on fire from the start and finished the game almost the same way," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "That was a remarkable performance."

Lamar Odom moved into the starting lineup and Gasol slid to the center spot to replace Bynum.

Gasol and Odom were too big for the undersized Knicks, but the Lakers will get a truer test of where they are without Bynum when they visit the Celtics and Cavaliers later this week.

SUNS 129, KINGS 81

PHOENIX — Jason Richardson scored 16 of his 24 points in the first quarter, Amare Stoudemire finished with 25 points and eight rebounds, and Phoenix ended a three-game home losing skid with its most lopsided victory of the season. The Suns' point total was their highest of the season and their 48-point margin of victory was their biggest in history at home.

MAVERICKS 105, MAGIC 95

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and six rebounds, and Jason Terry had 23 points as Dallas won its third straight. Josh Howard and Jason Kidd added 13 apiece for the Mavericks, who held Orlando to 3-for-20 shooting from 3-point range.

TRAIL BLAZERS 97, HORNETS 89

NEW ORLEANS — LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points, and Portland overcame a 17-point deficit after Chris Paul was injured for its fifth straight victory. Paul left the game late in the third quarter with a strained right groin, the first action he has missed all season.

SPURS 110, WARRIORS 105

OAKLAND, Calif. — Tim Duncan scored five of his season-high 32 points in overtime and San Antonio overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Golden State.

JAZZ 105, BOBCATS 86

SALT LAKE CITY — Ronnie Brewer scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half as Utah rallied from a sluggish start to beat Charlotte. Mehmet Okur scored 22 despite being in foul trouble most of the night.

GRIZZLIES 113, WIZARDS 97

WASHINGTON — Rookie O.J. Mayo matched his career high with 33 points to lead Memphis to its first win in nearly a month.

HEAT 119, CLIPPERS 95

MIAMI — Dwyane Wade had 32 points and nine assists and Michael Beasley added 18 points as Miami snapped a two-game losing skid.