LeBron James leads the charge for the Lakers win 113-105 at The Garden
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated New York 113-105 on Saturday night, ending the Knicks’ nine-game winning run. LeBron James scored 24 points in the victory.
The Lakers defeated the Clippers for the second straight game to get above.500 (26-25). Austin Reaves Scored 22 points, D’Angelo Russell and Taurean Prince each scored 16, and Anthony Davis finished with 12 points, 18 rebounds and 4 Blocks.
When he had back-to-back blocks in a possession, Anthony Davis said he was merely attempting to “put my mark on the game”.
“Just attempting to put on a play. I attempted to concentrate on my defense because I didn’t have a good attacking shot”.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated, “We’re just trying to get to a place where we’re trying to get to a place where we’re actually playing the type of basketball we imagined.” The kind of basketball that we believe we can play and can defend at an extremely high standard. Every night, that will give you an opportunity. Additionally, we have enough firepower in the starting lineup and among the players coming off the bench to allow us to score points.
New York (32–18) was led by 36 points by Jalen Brunson, and Donte DiVincenzo finished with 26 points before fouling out. Precious Achiuwa contributed 10 points, and Josh Hart finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
According to Brunson, “We didn’t make enough plays on both sides of the ball.” “Acknowledge them.”
The Knicks led 86-80 following three quarters of a close game, but the Lakers took the lead with seven baskets in the opening frame of the fourth quarter. It was back and forth, with DiVencenzo’s 3-pointer with 7:25 left giving New York its final lead at 96-94.
“We’re up six at the beginning of the fourth,” Thibodeau stated. “We gave up a three in transition, and there was a significant turnover.” The moment they gained momentum, the game was instantly changed.
Los Angeles’ game-winning 11-0 run, which was finished by James’ fadeaway jumper for a 105-96 advantage with 1:54 remaining, was initiated by Prince’s three-point play 19 seconds later.
LeBron in the clutch at MSG... NOTHING BUT NET 👑🗽 pic.twitter.com/M7HiuSQTlX
— NBA (@NBA) February 4, 2024
In the fourth quarter, Prince and Reaves scored 16 of Los Angeles’ first 20 points between them.
Taurean Prince claimed that although playing with the second unit gave him more freedom to be aggressive, his role remained the same overall.
Taurean Prince was praised by LeBron James for being a “professional” and adding energy off the bench tonight.
Ham remarked of Prince and Reaves’ eruption in the fourth quarter, “That’s what we need.” “Our attacking players are quite talented on our team. Better things will happen and LeBron and A.D. will have more endurance if they maintain their aggressiveness, establish themselves, and deliver on the possibilities they have.
With 39.1 seconds remaining, DiVincenzo made a pull-up jumper to trim the score to 105-98. It also put a stop to New York’s scoreless drought of almost seven minutes.
After Brunson’s layup, Reaves sandwiched four free throws to increase the Lakers’ advantage to 109-100.
On his outstanding fourth quarter, Austin Reaves:
It’s excellent. I’ve never played here before, but the vibe is amazing.
“I don’t care if we win or lose and we can still be productive in the fourth quarter. What matters is that we win.”
With 11.2 seconds left, Brunson made a three-point play to cut the margin to six points. However, in the closing seconds, Davis finished off the game with four free throws and a basket by Brunson.
According to Darvin Ham on SpectrumSN, returning to a “defensive mindset” has been a major focus of the past few days, and it was essential for the team’s last two victories.
Knicks dominated in the paint with 54 points compared to 44 from Lakers. Additionally, the Knicks scored 17 points to the Lakers’ 2 points in second-chance points. Lakers’ defense outperformed the Knicks’, with 11 blocks to the Knicks’ 4.
James was applauded when he entered the court for pregame warmups and had a standing ovation after he scored a two-handed dunk 3:12 into the game off a feed from Russell. This was James’ 32nd career game at Madison Square Garden.
James remarked, “It’s the Mecca of basketball.” “This facility has produced a plethora of outstanding athletes, teams, and events. I’m therefore just glad to be a part of it.
Lakers are 9th Seed with 26-25 record and are currently aspiring for Play-in contention https://x.com/NBA/status/1754019107421175904?s=20
Kicks on the other hand are 4th Seed in Eastern Conference with 32-18 record and are aspiring for Playoff contention.
Lakers will Play at Charlotte on Monday night.
Knicks will Host Memphis on Tuesday night.
Sajjad ali is a versatile sports writer, is a maestro of the written word in the world of sports. With an in-depth knowledge of NBA, NFL, golf, and various sports, he crafts compelling narratives that captivate readers. His insightful analysis set him apart in the sports journalism arena. A multi-talented storyteller, his work resonates with sports enthusiasts across the globe, making him a go-to source for sporting insights. His passion for diverse sports shines through every line he pens.
2 thoughts on “Lakers break Knicks 9 Game winning streak”