When the teams play on Monday in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks will attempt to recapture the feeling that they have both seen in recent days.
The Lakers have dropped two of their last three games, including a 129-115 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, who were able to snap an 18-game losing streak, after winning the first NBA in-season tournament in the title game on December 9.
The Knicks won both of their games this past week by a combined score of at least 136 points, with Jalen Brunson scoring 50 points in one of them. However, they were defeated 144-122 by the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday as their defensive problems reappeared.
Following some post-tournament bumps and bruises, the Lakers are healing. Head coach Darvin Ham later confirmed that Anthony Davis missed Friday’s loss due to a left ankle injury. Davis’s hip pain had initially caused him to be excluded. D’Angelo Russell (illness) and Cam Reddish (knee) are two other starters who did not play on Friday.
“Through it all we just have to get healthy,” Ham stated. “We have a big week coming up … starting with New York on Monday.”
LeBron James, who missed Wednesday’s game against the Spurs due to a bruised left calf, finished with 23 points and 14 assists in the San Antonio defeat.
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In that regard, our team is not designed to be without three starters,” James remarked. “However, you give credit where it is deserved. San Antonio performed admirably. They had excellent ball striking. They made us their target. And our physical limitations were all we had.”
The Lakers’ trip home is brief following their three games away from home. After the game against the Knicks, the Lakers travel to Chicago, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City for three more road games before coming back to play the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day.
After Monday’s game, the Knicks will return to New York, but their road trip is far from over. Their final away game of the five-game streak will be at Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Even after the challenging game against the hot-starting Clippers on Saturday, the Knicks—who are 1-2 on the road thus far—still feel the impact of that one victory. A large portion of Brunson’s 50 points on the night in a 139-122 victory away in Phoenix on Friday came from making all nine of his 3-pointers.
However, Brunson was only able to score 22 points against the Clippers while making just 2 of 5 3-pointers. Donte DiVincenzo scored eighteen points and made five of eight long range shots in a successful game.
However, Los Angeles was able to shoot 16 of 33 (48.5 percent) from 3-point range and 56.8 percent from the field while New York watched. In addition, the Knicks allowed 77 points in the first half and 42 points in the second quarter.
Josh Hart’s ejection following two consecutive quick technical fouls in the second quarter compounded the Knicks’ problems.
Following an ankle procedure, center Mitchell Robinson missed his third game out of a two-month absence, and New York is still getting used to his new situation.
“We need to figure it out and make adjustments,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stated regarding his defense. “It’s not good right now.” We became irritated when the game was called tight, so we can’t allow ourselves to get distracted. That is the reality at times. All you have to do is modify accordingly.”
