Lakers vs Knicks Recap: Lakers Win 110-97 Behind Luka Dončić
Lakers vs Knicks: Los Angeles Wins 110-97
The Lakers vs Knicks matchup ended in a convincing 110-97 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers. It was an impressive win against a New York team that currently sits third in the Eastern Conference standings.
Los Angeles played without LeBron James for the second straight game. James is dealing with a foot and elbow injury. Despite missing one of their stars, the Lakers received strong contributions from several players.
LeBron James was the first player in the arena at 7:45 AM and looked good in his on-court work. His left foot arthritis, something he’s dealt with on and off, didn’t respond to treatment after the workout and ultimately James was ruled out, I’m told. He is day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/qjDwiaQFoP
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) March 8, 2026
Lakers Role Players Step Up
Several Lakers’ role players made important contributions in the win.
Rui Hachimura continued his strong outside shooting. He finished with 13 points while going 3-for-8 from three-point range.
Luke Kennard also made an impact from deep. Kennard shot 3-for-7 from beyond the arc and finished the night with 12 points.
Their shooting helped stretch the floor and create tough situations for New York as they started to think twice before sending double teams.
Luka Dončić Leads Lakers Offense
The Lakers also received a huge performance from Luka Dončić. The star guard led the team with 35 points and controlled the game offensively.
Dončić also held his own on defense and avoided becoming a liability on that end of the floor.
Austin Reaves bounced back after a few average offensive games. He finished with 25 points and looked more comfortable attacking the defense.
MY DUO pic.twitter.com/sUXxOVQ4Kz
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) March 8, 2026
Lakers Defense Shuts Down Knicks
Defense was one of the biggest differences in the game.
The Lakers have struggled defensively this season. However, they delivered a strong effort against New York.
Los Angeles held the Knicks to just 97 points. That is well below New York’s season average of 117.2 points per game.
Players like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura helped anchor the defensive effort.
One of the most surprising results came from Mikal Bridges, who was held scoreless. Holding a player of his caliber to zero points showed the intensity of the Lakers’ defense.
Lakers Prepare for Tough Upcoming Stretch
The win is encouraging for Los Angeles, especially with LeBron James still sidelined.
The Lakers now face a difficult stretch of games. Their next matchup comes Tuesday against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota currently sits one game ahead of Los Angeles in the Western Conference standings.
This upcoming stretch will be important as the Lakers try to build momentum and find their rhythm before the playoffs.
