The Lakers were on their way to losing their 3rd consecutive game but they scored twelve points in 45 seconds at Madison Square Garden, with Kobe Bryant and Chucky Atkins doing a collective impersonation of Reggie Miller sending the game into overtime.

They outscored the Knicks 39-24 in the 4th quarter, playing on a prayer, as well as the lackadaisical play of a New York team already penciling in their 3rd straight victory.

They began the overtime frame taking a quick lead, but squandered the lead with 12.1 seconds after a foul on Stephon Marbury by Chucky Atkins.

With the Lakers trailing 117-115, Kobe penetrated and dished it to Luke Walton who subsequently passed up an open shot and gave him the ball back under the basket, but Bryant fumbled it as he might have been fouled by Kurt Thomas and time expired as he slammed the ball to the floor of the Garden and yelled at Walton.

Bryant did lead the Lakers with 30 points, Odom had 26 of his own and Atkins had 22.

Tim Thomas scored 35 points, an unlikely scoring source for the Knicks.

The Raptors defeated the Lakers on Sunday by a final score of 108-102, remaining unbeaten following the All-Star break.

Jalen Rose scored 26 points and Donyell Marshall added 19, while Kobe Bryant scored 31 for the Lakers.

The Raptors made 13 3-point field goals, Marhsall made 5 of those 3-pointers.

Toronto had lost their previous six games to the Lakers.

The defending champions beat last season's runners-up in a 111-90 blowout.  It was the Pistons' sixth straight and 11th in 12 games, was their second lopsided win over the Lakers in two weeks. They beat them by 22 points at Detroit on Feb. 10.

Tayshaun Prince scored 26 points, Chauncey Billups added 23, and the Pistons never trailed in the rematch, same as in the previous meeting.

Richard Hamilton had 18 points and eight assists, Rasheed Wallace had 19 points, and Ben Wallace had 13 rebounds for the Pistons.

``We played great. We shared the ball, we took care of the ball,'' Detroit coach Larry Brown said. ``We defended well, got out on the break. It was a great team effort.''

Tuesday came and went with no official announcement of a Carlos Boozer trade to the Lakers, likely causing nervousness for Jack Haley, but this in no way means that the deal is dead.

The Lakers need to reshape their roster and the Jazz management do not seem to like Boozer, making this relationship very possible.

The only thing that will stop these rumors are an official announcement or February 24th.

Jack Haley was known more for towel waving and cheering than dunks or rebounds during his NBA career. Now a member of Fox Sports Net, Haley has either scooped everyone on a major NBA trade (trumping the likes of Ford, Stein and Aldridge) or he's the unfortunate victim of bad information.

Haley is reporting the Lakers will trade Vlade Divac, Caron Butler and Devean George to the Utah Jazz in exchange for big man Carlos Boozer, pending league approval. However since Fox Sports posted the article early Monday afternoon there has been no other confirmations in other major media outlets. Jazz owner Larry Miller and VP Kevin O'Conner have dismissed the reports.

Alternate scenarios are appearing in other main stream media sources with the Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith writing that the Jazz may receive Butler, Luke Walton and Slava Medvedenko for Boozer, though other players would have to be involved to match salaries.

The NBA's trade deadline is Thursday.

David Aldridge reported at the All-Star game that the Lakers are very keen to make a trade and that everyone is talking about a deal which would send Lamar Odom to Sacramento for Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson.

Both the Lakers and Kings have denied speaking to one another about this deal, but Aldridge reported that there was validity to the rumors.

Also coming out of Denver is a rumor that has Carlos Boozer coming over to the Lakers in exchange for Caron Butler, Vlade Divac and Devean George.

It is possible for the Lakers to pull the trigger on both deals, which would give them a starting five of Chucky Atkins, Kobe Bryant, Peja, Boozer and Chris Mihm, a team that would be dangerous in the playoffs.

Both trades have been accepted by RealGM.com's Trade Checker.

Lakers reserve Devean George's recent MRI revealed tendinitis in his injured left knee, according to the Pasadena Star-News. The forward remains on the teams' injured list, but is now listed as day-to-day.

George has yet to play so far this season.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were both asked on Friday at the All-Star festivities what they thought of the possibility of Phil Jackson returning to the Lakers bench and both had similar answers.

"As a friend of Phil's, he shouldn't take no less than $15 million [annually]," O'Neal said Friday. "I care for Phil. Whatever Phil wants to do, I'm happy for Phil."

Jackson's request last year for a two-year, $25-million contract extension was rebuffed by the Lakers.

Bryant told the media, "I think it's a real possibility."

The Lakers have added two coaches to their bench staff who have a history with the organization and are potential head coaches for next season.

Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis will become assistant coaches for the Lakers. They will start their new jobs Monday after this weekend's All-Star break.

Frank Hamblen, who will remain the interim coach until the end of the season, suggested the hiring of Shaw and Rambis, according to sources.

"That's what Frank wanted," one source said.

Laker GM Mitch Kupchak seems to be happy with interim coach Frank Hamblen and expects Rudy Tomjanovich?s replacement to finish the season as Laker head coach.

"We expect Frank to be our head coach for the remainder of the season," Kupchak said Wednesday. "I think he's done a great job and our roster will be healthier after the All-Star break."

The Laker expect Devean George and Vlade Divac back sometime after the All-Star break.