The Lakers have struggled against the NBA’s elite teams this season, something that’s been a source of consternation for the team.
The opportunity to start shaping another narrative was presented Sunday against one of the league’s top teams in the New York Knicks.
And the Lakers found some redemption, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves leading them to a 110-97 win at Crypto.com Arena.
“There was one key and that was multiple efforts,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And thought we did that throughout the game, not just in spurts.”
Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds. Though he was 11 for 25 from the field and five for 16 from three-point range, his three with 1:05 left sealed the win for the Lakers (39-25).
Reaves had 25 points, five assists and four rebounds. He was eight for 16 from the field and three for six from three-point range.
“I was just playing basketball, playing the right way,” Reaves said. “I continue to grind through a couple of tough games, but just playing the right way and have fun.”
Rui Hachimura (13 points, seven rebounds) and Luke Kennard (12 points) helped make sure the Lakers didn’t blow a 23-point lead against a New York team that is third in the Eastern Conference.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson had 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Knicks (41-24).
The Lakers’ lead was sliced to 10 points late, but they held on to get a much-needed win over a Knicks team that was physical and had won four of its last five games.
“Yeah, I agree with JJ. I feel like we are doing some really great things,” Reaves said. “We still have room for improvement, but tonight was a good step in the right direction with a win over a good team.”
The Lakers entered the game with a 4-12 record against teams with a winning percentage over .600. Many of their losses to top teams have been by double digits, but Redick isn’t overly concerned about how the team has performed against top teams.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, dives for a loose ball in front of New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during the first half Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Again, I’m not in a position where I can worry about that,” Redick said. “I’ll let you guys do that. Fans rightfully should always overreact. That’s what makes fandom so awesome. I know as a kid growing up a Duke fan I cried after every single game they lost. I was an overreactor. My job is not to overreact.”
It wasn’t going to be easy against a Knicks team that’s one of the NBA’s best on the defensive end. They entered Sunday ranked fifth in points allowed (110.6) and seventh in both field-goal percentage (45.7) and defensive rating (111.7).
When the Lakers extended their lead to 21 points in the third quarter, they did so, in part, by playing stingy defense. They held the Knicks to 24 points in the third, with 35% shooting from the field and 18% shooting from three-point range. They also held the Knicks below their season average of 117 points per game.
Doncic, Reaves and Marcus Smart also took charges, something that was a bright spot.
“That’s a sacrificial play,” Redick said. “You got to put your body on the line and our guys have been motivated to do that all year. We’ve been really good with charges.”
The Lakers played without LeBron James, who missed his second straight game because of a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis. James sustained his elbow injury after falling to the court in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
But Lakers center Deandre Ayton, who missed Friday’s win over Pacers with left knee soreness, returned.
It has been an up-and-down season for Ayton, but Redick said he is confident the 7-foot center can be more consistent moving forward.
Ayton showed flashes of his talent against the Knicks by being more engaged. He was active on defense from the start, blocking a shot in the first quarter. He set a hard screen to get Doncic open and then rolled to the basket and took a lob pass from Doncic for a two-handed dunk in the first quarter.
Ayton finished with six points and eight rebounds.
“He was great,” Redick said. “I thought the pursuit of the basketball, loose balls, going to get blocked shots. … There was a couple of times where he was outside the play, shot goes up, he goes and pursues the rebound. I thought he played really hard.”
This story originally appeared on LA Times
