LOS ANGELES — Phil Jackson proved to be the worst good-luck charm Tuesday night at Staples Center.
A surprise attendee, hiding in a Staples Center suite, the new team president watched a Knicks horror show unfold as they allowed the Lakers to score a record 51 points in the third quarter en route to a 127-96 mauling.
“I can’t really explain it,” Tyson Chandler said. “It’s kind of late in season to be calling a team meeting. They executed their offense well and moved the ball all over the place.
“I’m very shocked. I didn’t expect this coming in here.”
The stunning defeat probably zapped any realistic hope of catching Atlanta for the final playoff berth as the Knicks fell three games behind the Hawks with 11 to play.
The 51 points was a Knicks franchise record for futility for most points allowed in a single quarter. The previous record of infamy was the 50 points they gave up to the Cincinnati Royals in 1964. Meanwhile, Mike D’Antoni’s Lakers set a franchise record for most points in a quarter — stunning considering their illustrious history.
Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting with nine boards, questioned the team’s effort.
“They picked us apart,’’ Anthony said of his former coach’s speedball attack. “We just didn’t have the energy and focus and they did. It’s very disappointing. The worst part is we didn’t compete tonight. At this point, I don’t think there are any words you can put forth.
“It’s very disappointing in that I don’t think we competed.’’
The Knicks, who actually had a 22-14 lead after the first quarter, had talked about needing to go 5-0 on this West Coast trip to put themselves in good position. But instead they looked like a team destined to go 0-5, giving Jackson ammunition to blow up this thing after the season. They face the Kings in Sacramento Wednesday.
The Lakers (24-46) could set their worst record since moving to Los Angeles in 1960, but the Knicks made them look like Pat Riley’s old Showtime teams. The Knicks looked sluggish on defense, leaving the 3-point line open continuously as Los Angeles shot 18-for-28 (64.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
After holding the Lakers to 14 first-quarter points, they collected 36 points in the second quarter and 51 in the third.
“It was downhill from there,’’ Anthony said, referring to the first quarter. “You can’t win a game giving up 87 points in two quarters.’’
Jackson wasn’t planning to attend the game a couple of days ago, feeling his presence would create a circus, and the Knicks told Lakers officials he would be a no-show. But most of the Staples Center crowd didn’t realize he was on hand, imbedded in the suite, and he left early. Metta World Peace, the former Knick and Laker, got word and visited Jackson at halftime.
“We just didn’t have any effort from a defensive standpoint,” coach Mike Woodson said. “[The Lakers’ bench] came out blazing, and we couldn’t control them.”
The Knicks got off to an 8-0 lead, with the Lakers missing their first five shots and committing three turnovers, and had the eight-point lead after one quarter.
It had the appearance of an easy night instead of an embarrassment against a Lakers team were more decimated than usual.
The home fans at Staples Center seemed prepared for another ugly loss as they cheered sarcastically when the Lakers scored their first point five minutes into the contest on a Chris Kaman free throw. But Los Angeles exploded for 36 points in the second quarter, outscoring the Knicks 36-20 and taking a 50-42 halftime lead.
The Lakers have spent almost all season without Kobe Bryant, but Tuesday they also were without power forward Pau Gasol and Steve Nash. But it was reserve no-names such as Xavier Henry who damaged Woodson’s club. Henry, a demon from deep, scored 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting (3-of-4 from 3-point land). Nick Young added 20 and Kent Bazemore 18 off the bench.
In the most humiliating play of the night, late in the third quarter, Henry chased down an offensive rebound at the baseline, drove to the hoop and threw down a hard slam as Carmelo Anthony got out of the way.
After their awful first quarter, the Lakers scored a combined 87 points in the second and third quarters and led 101-73 heading into the fourth.
“We let our foot off the gas,’’ Amar’e Stoudemire said.
The loss clinched a losing season, which has been a foregone conclusion for the Knicks.