Knicks wonder how to stop Kobe

Is there really a fitting encore to "61?" The Knicks find out tonight.

Kobe Bryant has made sure that number no longer is sole copyright of Roger Maris in New York. And Bryant's "61" needed no asterisk. Just highlight the number in purple and gold.

Bryant pulverized the Knicks last February in a historic Garden evening awash in "MVP" chants and wild cheers from too many purple-and-gold-clad patrons. He set the arena's single-game scoring record with 61 points as a prelude to winning his fourth NBA championship.

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Bryant's 61 broke Bernard King's 1984 record of 60 and Michael Jordan's opponent record of 55 for most points scored in an NBA game (set in 1995) at the Garden.

"It's a blessing to do what you love and to have moments like this," said Bryant, who claimed he was motivated by having to see Spike Lee after the game. Bryant and Spike met to put the final touches on a documentary, and Bryant said he didn't want to endure Lee's taunts had they lost.

The world-champion Lakers grace the Garden tonight in a nationally televised showdown -- Bryant's first return since his record-shattering night.

Coach Mike D'Antoni admits the Knicks could be helpless to stop him again. It's all up to Bryant.

"I'm sure at the Garden his lights come on and we'll have to deal with it," D'Antoni said. "It really depends on Kobe. If he has a great game, Kobe deserves it. If he has a bad game, it's because he wasn't quite on. It doesn't have a whole lot to do with us."

The Knicks' best prayer is Bryant, who is playing with a broken right index finger, gets worn down from last night's 93-87 loss in Cleveland against LeBron James. As D'Antoni said, facing the Lakers on the second night of a back-to-back, "doesn't hurt."

But Bryant, who scored 31 points last night, always has been revved by Broadway.

"Every big superstar likes the Garden; it's their personal stage," Knicks guard Chris Duhon told The Post. "It's their time to perform in the greatest arena in the world. Everybody looks forward to doing it."

"He's a guy that if he chooses to come out and try to have 40 [tonight], he can probably get it done," David Lee said. "If he chooses to get other guys involved, he can do that, too. The whole offense is scripted for him. We're just going to have to hope he misses some shots."

The Lakers own the NBA's best record at 32-10 after last night's loss. The Knicks are at the season's midpoint at 17-24, still sniffing at the eighth seed -- 1½ games behind Chicago.

"It gives us a huge test to see where we are," Duhon said. "Obviously, I think they are the best team in the league. It will show a lot where we are and where we need to be a playoff team."

In their last meeting, a 100-90 Knick loss at Staples Center on Nov. 24, Bryant scored a workman-like 34 points. His previous Garden high was 46 in 2003.

D'Antoni will mix it up against Bryant tonight, with Wilson Chandler and Jared Jeffries seeing duty, with occasional double-teams and a zone.

"We'll try to throw everything at him," D'Antoni said.