The night promised to be a test, maybe even a coming-out party for the Knicks. With a national television audience invited to watch, the Knicks were completing a six-game road trip Tuesday at Staples Center against LeBron James and the Lakers.
Except there was no James.
The Lakers star, who has been rehabilitating a sprained right ankle, had been targeting the game against the Knicks to make his return to the lineup in preparation for the postseason. But James opted to spend another day of rest and instead is expected to make his return to action a day later against the lottery-bound Houston Rockets.