Matthew Falkenbury, theKnicksBlog.com

The Knicks begin their three game western road trip this afternoon, looking to be a Grinch for the purple and gold L.A. fans, as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers. This is the second and final time the Knicks will play the Lakers this season. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 116-107 on December 13th at Madison Square Garden.

Rasheed Wallace is still out with what is now being called a stress reaction in his foot, missing his 5th consecutive game. Amar’e Stoudemire is not expected to play on this trip but did travel with the team.

Five Questions About Tonight’s Game

1. Will Carmelo torch the Lakers, like he did in the last matchup?
2. How different will the Lakers look with Steve Nash and Pau Gasol in the lineup this time?
3. Will the Knicks be able to shake out of their shooting slump from behind the three point line?
4. What kind of performance can Marcus Camby give in his first game back from a foot injury?
5. Which bench provides their team with more energy and scoring?