Key Takeaways:
- Luka Doncic delivered 35 points and eight rebounds as the Lakers defeated the Knicks 110-97 on Sunday night in Los Angeles
- The Lakers extended their winning streak to four matches, overcoming the absence of LeBron James, who missed a second consecutive game with a bruised left elbow and a left foot injury
- The Knicks recorded just their second loss in six outings, struggling from beyond the arc with an 8-of-34 3-point shooting performance
Match Analysis: Lakers Secure Victory Despite LeBron’s Absence
The Los Angeles Lakers managed to register a determined 110-97 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday, even without the services of LeBron James, who sat out with both a bruised left elbow and a left foot injury for the second game in a row. Luka Doncic took centre stage with an impressive tally of 35 points and eight rebounds. Austin Reaves contributed a crucial 25 points, while Rui Hachimura added 13, ensuring the Lakers never fell behind at any stage of the contest.
During the fourth quarter, the Lakers’ offence faltered with only one made basket during a 6 and a half minute period, as the Knicks slashed the deficit from 23 points down to just 10. Despite their late surge, New York’s chance to stage a comeback evaporated due to poor shooting and eight critical turnovers in the final period.
Add one to the win column ✔️ pic.twitter.com/2GVA4Hb8WD
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 8, 2026
Key Plays and Player Performances
A key moment came when Luke Kennard sank a 3-pointer with 1:37 left on the clock, paving the way for Luka Doncic to seal the victory with his fifth 3-pointer at the 1:05 mark. Doncic’s late-game scoring capped his dominant display less than 48 hours after he had amassed 44 points against Indiana in a three-quarter effort.
For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns produced a double-double performance, finishing with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 24 points, 10 of which came in a strong fourth quarter push. Nevertheless, the team failed to capitalise, struggling mightily from distance as they connected on just 8-of-34 three-point attempts. Mikal Bridges was unable to trouble the Lakers in his 27 minutes on court, as did not score any of his 6 field goal attempts.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | Lakers | 35 | 8 | 4 |
| Austin Reaves | Lakers | 25 | 4 | 5 |
| Rui Hachimura | Lakers | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Knicks | 25 | 16 | 2 |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 24 | 6 | 7 |
| Mikal Bridges | Knicks | 0 | 6 | 5 |
Looking Ahead
The Knicks are set to continue their five-game road trip as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Meanwhile, the Lakers return home to host Minnesota on Tuesday, with hopes that LeBron James may soon return to action after recovering from injury.
