LeBron James delivered a dominant performance at Madison Square Garden, recording 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers (28-19) to a 128-112 victory over the New York Knicks (32-17) on Saturday.
James notched his 10th triple-double of the season while also surpassing 2,500 career three-pointers, making three of the Lakers’ 19 threes in the game. His performance lifted Los Angeles to its fourth straight win and improved his career record at MSG to 23-8.
Austin Reaves added 27 points, while Rui Hachimura scored 21 as the Lakers shot 58% from the field. The team had five players knock down at least three three-pointers, highlighting their perimeter shooting efficiency.
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, recording his seventh triple-double of the season. Jalen Brunson finished with 17 points, and Mikal Bridges contributed 16, but New York saw its five-game winning streak come to an end.
The Lakers built a commanding lead in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Knicks 37-23. James orchestrated the offense, setting up teammates while attacking the paint and hitting shots from deep.
A major trade development quickly overshadowed James’ performance, as Luka Doncic is reportedly heading to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Doncic, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, will join Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis and Max Christie are set to move to Dallas as part of the three-team trade.
New York suffered a setback when OG Anunoby exited in the third quarter with a sprained right foot after scoring 13 points. His availability moving forward remains uncertain.
Karl-Anthony Towns struggled offensively, finishing with 11 points on 3-for-12 shooting, as the Knicks shot just 35.7% from three-point range.
Bronny James received a loud ovation from the crowd late in the game and made the most of his brief appearance, scoring on a left-handed layup in the final minutes.
With the win, the Lakers remain in the Western Conference playoff race as they prepare for potential roster changes with Doncic’s expected arrival. The Knicks will look to regroup as they await updates on Anunoby’s injury status.
