LeBron James was unavailable after suffering a contusion to his left elbow during Thursday’s game against Denver, but head coach JJ Redick indicated that the veteran forward is expected to return for Sunday’s matchup with New York.
Deandre Ayton, who is dealing with a knee issue, and reserve big man Maxi Kleber, sidelined by a back problem, were also held out Friday but may be ready to rejoin the lineup as soon as Sunday.
Los Angeles currently sits sixth in the Western Conference standings, though the team has struggled against elite competition.
The Lakers hold a 3-11 record versus opponents with winning percentages of .600 or higher, and only one of those wins has come within the past four months.
A strong performance against the Knicks could serve as an important confidence boost, according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times.
“You play teams that are playing winning basketball and [have] winning records, it definitely can build some confidence in the group,” guard Luke Kennard said.
“But I know even some of the close games we’ve lost just recently, I know we’ve done some really good things. … We know what we have in the locker room and in this group.”
Luka Doncic reached another scoring milestone, plus more on the Lakers. https://t.co/ydzZrDrmco
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 8, 2026
