NEW YORK
The Lakers are no strangers to performing at Madison Square Garden. Yet, on Sunday night, they found themselves spectators in a game they’d likely prefer to forget. The Knicks dominated the offensive rebounding, leading to a flurry of open 3-pointers.
In total, the Knicks hit 18 three-pointers, resulting in a 112-100 defeat for the Lakers despite Luka Doncic nearly achieving a triple-double, finishing with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists.
LeBron James, who had one of the best winning percentages for visiting players at this venue, contributed 22 points, along with six assists and five rebounds.
However, the Lakers struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 28.6%, while the Knicks found success at 42.9% from three-point range.
In terms of rebounds, the Lakers managed just seven offensive boards, while the Knicks secured 15.
This marked the Lakers’ first loss at Madison Square Garden since 2021.
For the Knicks, OG Anunoby led the scoring with 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Josh Hart scored 20 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
What It Means
After falling to 29-19, the Lakers still have a chance to finish their road record positively, despite this loss ending their six-game winning streak against the Knicks.
Even with the defeat, the Lakers hold a 17-11 record at Crypto.com Arena, which puts them third in winning percentage among Western Conference teams.
Turning Point
While the Lakers were generally good with the ball, Doncic made a costly pass that landed in Towns’s hands, leading to Anunoby’s dunk and tying the game at 77 with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
Soon after, Gabe Vincent also turned the ball over, allowing Anunoby to score again, giving the Knicks a 79-77 lead.
Rui Hachimura missed an open three-point attempt, and then Brunson assisted Landry Shamet on an alley-oop, which pushed the Knicks ahead 83-77, flipping the script completely as the Lakers fell behind by eight heading into the fourth.
MVP: Jalen Brunson
Though he made just 4 of 15 shots, the Knicks’ guard orchestrated the game with 13 assists, slipping past the Lakers’ defense effectively.
He dished out nine of those assists in the second half, helping the Knicks outscore the Lakers 60-44.
Game Status: 2
Deandre Ayton attempted just two field goals after the first quarter. He started strong, scoring nine points on perfect shooting and added four rebounds in the first period.
Ultimately, Ayton finished with 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting, alongside five rebounds in 32 minutes, with the Lakers opting for a centerless lineup in the final moments of the game.
The Lakers are 11-15 when Ayton takes fewer than ten shots and an impressive 15-2 when he attempts ten or more.
To the Next
The Lakers are set to finish their 16-day, eight-game “Grammy” trip against the Nets on Tuesday before returning to Southern California for a more extended break.
By the end of this road stretch, they will have been away for 12 consecutive days.
