PORZINGIS HELPS BURY LAKERS
LOS ANGELES — Ending his slump, Kristaps Porzingis’ star shined brightest in Hollywood on Sunday.
In spectacular two-way fashion, Porzingis bashed the Lakers for 26 points, seven blocks and 12 rebounds as the Knicks won their fourth straight road game, a 118112 Staples Center victory, as team president Phil Jackson watched his prodigy from the fourth row behind the team bench.
Yes, Derrick Rose made his splashy return from back spasms, killing Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell early, but the night belonged to Porzingis, who had shot 32 percent in his previous five games. The 7-foot-3 Latvian also came up with a fourth-quarter rejection he didn’t get credit for on the stat sheet.
Russell was selected at No. 3 in the draft, just ahead of Porzingis. It could be a mistake Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak regrets for years. The Lakers thought Porzingis was out of shape at this pre-draft workout.
Rose’s backup, Brandon Jennings, a Los Angeles product, came up big in the fourth quarter, too, scoring 11 of his 19 points.
Rose’s 12-of-16 shooting for 25 points was huge, and Jennings’ late spark made up for a poor shooting night from Carmelo Anthony (4of-16). Anthony did other things — eight rebounds and seven assists to go long with his 13 points.
“Melo didn’t have a good shooting night, but other guys picked up the slack,” coach Jeff Hornacek said.
The Lakers rallied to take the lead at 87-86, but the Knicks went on an 11-2 run — with back-to-back 3-pointers by Jennings, the native of Compton who had never won a game as a pro at Staples Center.
Jennings made 5-of-11 shots as he put on a late show for the 25 friends and family for whom he bought tickets.
Rose made his first eight shots, an array of pull-up jumpers, floaters and layups, completely outplaying second-year man Russell. On the game’s first play, Rose blocked Russell’s side jumper. Russell was scoreless in the half, shooting 0-for-5. Russell finished with three points.
“I was taking what they were giving me. They were giving me the lane,” Rose said.
The Knicks led just 58-57 at the half as Julius Randle hit a buzzerbeating floater, but Porzingis blocked two of his shots.
The Knicks have won nine of their last 12 to move four games over .500, at 14-10, for the first time this season. Jackson has never had it this good since taking over in March 2014. The Lakers lost their sixth straight to fall to 10-16. Luke Walton said before the game that building for the future is more important than current victories. Not so for the Knicks. “The team has gotten to now they believe in themselves,’’ Hornacek said before the game. “At the beginning, they were think- ing: ‘Can we win?’ They’ve figured out they can. When games get close, they don’t try to do too much. It’s the evolving part of a winning mentality.”
Porzingis, bothered by rightknee stiffness, had shot 32 percent in his previous five games. His 3-pointer put the Knicks up 73-72 with 4:00 left in the third.
All as Jackson watched, sitting next to GM Steve Mills. Lakers president Jeanie Buss, Jackson’s fiancée, sat all the way on the other side of the court, in the first row across from the Lakers bench, her usual seat.
During the game-sealing run, Porzingis made a spinning layup and was drilled hard to the floor, drawing a foul. Lou Williams (24 points), whom Jackson warned the team about, had a pass intercepted by Lance Thomas and Rose scored on a drive. The fourth quarter was all Jennings and a big late hoop by Rose — a point-guard tandem that is as good as any in the league. marc.berman@nypost.com