Luka Doncic And Austin Reaves Carry Lebron-less Lakers To Win Over Knicks

The Lakers person struggled against nan NBA’s elite teams this season, thing that’s been a root of consternation for nan team.

The opportunity to commencement shaping different communicative was presented Sunday against 1 of nan league’s apical teams successful nan New York Knicks.

And nan Lakers recovered immoderate redemption, pinch Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves starring them to a 110-97 win astatine Crypto.com Arena.

Doncic had 35 points and 8 rebounds. Though he was 11 for 25 from nan section and 5 for 16 from three-point range, his 3 pinch 1:05 near sealed nan triumph for nan Lakers (39-25).

Reaves had 25 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. He was 8 for 16 from nan section and 3 for six from three-point range.

Rui Hachimura (13 points, 7 rebounds) and Luke Kennard (12 points) helped make judge nan Lakers didn’t rustle a 23-point lead against a New York squad that is 3rd successful nan Eastern Conference.

Karl-Anthony Towns vanished pinch 25 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson had 24 points, 7 assists and six rebounds for nan Knicks (41-24).

The Lakers entered nan crippled pinch a 4-12 grounds against teams pinch a winning percent complete .600. Many of their losses to apical teams person been by double digits, which has go a important logic for interest pinch nan playoffs accelerated approaching.

Lakers halfway Jaxson Hayes, left, dives for a loose shot successful beforehand of New York Knicks guardant Og Anunoby during nan first half Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

It wasn’t going to beryllium easy against a Knicks squad that’s 1 of nan NBA’s champion connected nan protect end. They entered Sunday classed 5th successful points allowed (110.6) and seventh successful some field-goal percent (45.7) and protect standing (111.7).

When nan Lakers extended their lead to 21 points successful nan 3rd quarter, they did so, successful part, by playing stingy defense. They held nan Knicks to 24 points successful nan third, pinch 35% shooting from nan section and 18% shooting from three-point range.

The Lakers besides scored 34 points successful nan quarter, changeable 55% from nan section and 50% (five for 10) from three-point range.

The Lakers played without LeBron James, who missed his 2nd consecutive crippled because of a near elbow contusion and near ft arthritis. James sustained his elbow wounded aft falling to nan tribunal successful nan 4th fourth of a nonaccomplishment to nan Denver Nuggets connected Thursday.

But Lakers halfway Deandre Ayton, who missed Friday’s triumph complete Pacers pinch near knee soreness, returned.

It has been an up-and-down play for Ayton, but Lakers coach JJ Redick said he is assured nan 7-foot halfway tin beryllium much accordant moving forward.

Ayton showed flashes of his talent against nan Knicks by being much engaged. He was progressive connected defense from nan start, blocking a changeable successful nan first quarter. He group a difficult surface to get Doncic unfastened and past rolled to nan handbasket and took a lob walk from Doncic for a two-handed dunk successful nan first quarter.

Ayton vanished pinch six points and 8 rebounds.

“Ultimately, nan subordinate has to beryllium consistent,” Redick said. “And that’s not to opportunity that’s a sound connected DA. That’s conscionable nan NBA. We’ve been very accordant pinch really we’ve coached him. And we recognized early that was, possibly not a change, but that was thing we had to beryllium adaptable with. And I deliberation we’re hopeful and optimistic that we’re gonna get a accordant type down nan agelong of nan season.”