THREE POINTS

BRYANT’S LONGEST SHOT

As much as the Lakers’ crowd likes to chant “M-V-P” for Kobe Bryant, history says otherwise.

Bryant, putting up some of the most impressive scoring numbers in league history, will be hurt by a more important number -- the Lakers’ record. The team can win no more than 46 games.

Excluding the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, a most valuable player hasn’t come from a team with fewer than 50 wins since Moses Malone of the Houston Rockets (47-35) in 1978-79.

In fact, since 1979 only two MVPs -- Michael Jordan (50-32 with Chicago) in 1987-88 and Steve Nash (54-28 with Phoenix) last season -- have been on teams with 55 wins or fewer.

ALL-TECHNICAL TEAM

Maybe he wants to feel at one with Rasheed Wallace. Whatever the reason, the Detroit Pistons’ Richard Hamilton, with 15 technical fouls, is close to joining his teammate in being penalized because of an NBA rule that brings an automatic one-game suspension for the 16th technical and suspensions for every other one afterward.

Wallace, suspended twice, is one technical away from a third suspension with 19. Two other Pistons -- Antonio McDyess (nine) and Chauncey Billups (eight) -- are among the league leaders.

FINAL SHOTS

The New York Knicks are 3-10 since Isiah Thomas, their coach and president, received a much-discussed contract extension March 13, with six of the losses coming at home.... Chicago beat Detroit in three of four games, winning the season series for the first time since Jordan’s final season as a Bull in 1998.

--PAUL NETTER