The Los Angeles Lakers have now lost five of their last seven games after falling to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The visitors were not only without LeBron James who was suspended after getting a flagrant foul for elbowing Isaiah Stewart in the previous game, but their other star, Anthony Davis, played through an illness.

Despite this, the Lakers had a chance to win the game, but came up short as they lost by six points (100-106). “I still think we got the team to [win],” Davis said postgame. “I don’t use my illness as an excuse. If I go out there and play, I’m going to go out there and give my all and not use it as an excuse.

“Like I said, we had a chance to tie the game. I think we were tied in the fourth. We just didn’t score. We had 19 points. Like I said, we missed some shots, Melo missed some shots obviously being back in New York at the Garden he missed some shots. Malik had open look at the top of the key, he missed. Six free-throws for me.

“I think that was just the difference in the game. And like I said, Quickley made some shots towards the end he made four threes. But it would have definitely been helpful for me, for us if I wasn’t sick and Bron was here for sure.”