Lakers Pull Away From Knicks 110-97, Even as LeBron Watches From the Sideline
There’s something different about this Lakers team right now. Something that feels less like a collection of talent and more like a group that actually believes. On Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers didn’t just beat the New York Knicks — they sent a message. Final score: 110-97. Win streak: four games. Statement made.
LeBron James wasn’t there. He missed his second consecutive game with a bruised left elbow and a left foot injury — the kind of absence that, for most teams, would spell disaster against a surging Knicks squad that had just knocked off Denver on the road. But this Lakers team didn’t flinch. Not even close.
Luka Doncic Was Simply Unstoppable
Luka Doncic was a problem from the opening tip. He finished with 35 points and eight rebounds, adding four assists in 38 minutes. Five three-pointers. Fallaway jumpers. Drives to the rim. Free throws when the defense sagged off. Whatever New York threw at him, Doncic had an answer.
Two nights earlier, Doncic had 44 points through just three quarters against Indiana. Against the Knicks, he was a little more measured — but no less impactful. The shot that really iced it came with 1:05 left on the clock. New York had trimmed what was once a 23-point lead down to 10, the crowd was stirring, and Doncic calmly drained his fifth three of the night. Game over.
That’s the kind of clutch the Lakers were missing for so long. Now they have it.
Austin Reaves Continues to Prove His Worth
If Doncic is the engine, Austin Reaves is the fuel. The 27-year-old finished with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting, adding five assists, three steals and a block in 38 minutes. Reaves didn’t just score — he made plays at both ends, turning a Knicks turnover into transition points and repeatedly attacking mismatches with confidence.
There’s a reason Lakers fans love this guy. He plays hard, he plays smart, and on days when the superstar is carrying a heavy load, Reaves shows up and lightens it without being asked twice.
Rui Hachimura contributed 13 points off the bench, while Luke Kennard chipped in 12 — including back-to-back three-pointers down the stretch that gave the Lakers enough breathing room to comfortably close out the game.
How the Lakers Held Off a Late Knicks Surge
The Knicks didn’t go quietly. Jalen Brunson scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and Karl-Anthony Towns — who had 25 points and 16 rebounds — was a force all night long. New York cut the deficit to 10 in the fourth and had the momentum.
But the Knicks made 8-of-34 from three — a brutal 23.5% clip — and turned the ball over eight times in the fourth quarter alone. That’s not a recipe for a comeback. Mikal Bridges was held scoreless in 27 minutes. When your third option is a ghost, closing the gap becomes very, very hard.
The Lakers, by contrast, were relentless on defense. Coach JJ Redick described his team’s approach as “multiple efforts,” and it showed. LA held the Knicks to 97 points — 20 below their season average of 117.
What This Win Means for the Lakers
This was more than a regular-season victory. The Lakers improved to 39-25 on the season, jumping Denver for the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. They are now 20-12 at home and riding a four-game winning streak without their all-time great.
The NBA world is watching. A team that was written off multiple times this season is finding its footing at exactly the right moment of the year. Reaves is doing everything asked of him. And the defense — long a question mark — has shown real teeth over this four-game run.
Up next for the Lakers: the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. Another tough test. But right now? This Lakers team looks ready for all of them.
