Lakers turn up heat on D, halt Knicks’ nine-game win streak،
NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Lakers started Saturday night's game with a new look – starting with Rui Hachimura against Taurean Prince – and finished it with fierce defense to beat the Knicks 113-105, ending the New York's nine-game winning streak.
The Knicks, playing without Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Quentin Grimes, held an 86-80 lead after three quarters before the Los Angeles defense stepped up to close things out.
The Lakers held the Knicks to 19 points in the fourth – including just 10 points in the first 11 minutes, before New York fouled out to prolong the game – to validate their upset of the Boston Celtics on Thursday with another effort important.
“It's great when the Knicks win and you can come here and play competitive basketball at the highest level,” said LeBron James, who led Los Angeles with 24 points and played every second of the second half except 55. “Where every possession means something, especially in the fourth quarter. And being able to make a few plays in the fourth quarter to turn the tide.
“It’s something that feels good.”
Jalen Brunson paced the Knicks with 36 points, but was held to just 4-of-9 shooting to go along with two fourth-quarter turnovers as Los Angeles repeatedly ran pick-and-rolls to send two defenders at him.
“I mean, they were just sending two defenders every time there was action,” Brunson said. I was either trying to work around it or just hit the roll man to make the play, move around and find a way to continue to make an impact. I thought we made some good plays throughout the match, but not enough.”
Anthony Davis, despite only scoring 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, was all over the court defensively, finishing with 18 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Two of those blocks came on the same Knicks possession late in the third quarter when he crushed Josh Hart and then Brunson in a matter of seconds, sparking a fast break for the Lakers that ended with two free throws 'Austin Reaves, who scored 22 points. .
“The shot blocking was a factor,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “AD played a good game without having many points; LeBron the same. These guys read the game. LeBron played 41 minutes. Credit to him; he is in this type of form. Davis is a load to handle. “
The Lakers, who fear Jarred Vanderbilt's right foot injury could cost him the remainder of the campaign, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, believe a consistent defensive effort, even without Vanderbilt, will give them the best chance to succeed in end of season.
“Honestly, losing one of our biggest defensive presences is tough, but guys need to step up and embrace the challenge,” Davis said. “I think any one-on-one match should be taken personally. That's how you get better: take it personally.”
Hachimura had seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and four rebounds with the starters, and Prince led the Los Angeles bench scorers with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting. It was one of 15 starting lineups Lakers coach Darvin Ham used this season and he hopes they stay from here on out.
“I’m hoping like crazy,” Ham said. “Of these 15 differences, three were deliberate and not [due to] unforeseen circumstances. So here is. That’s definitely the plan.”
LA is 3-2 on its six-game road trip and will close it out Monday against the Charlotte Hornets.
“We're just trying to get to play the type of basketball that we envision, the type of basketball that we know we're capable of,” Ham said. “And defend at a very high level.”
ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.
