Above: New York Knicks vs Los Angeles Lakers emblems. Photo by Michael Tipton on Flickr (CC-BY-SA 2.0)

NBA is magical. You may start as favourites in the match, but by the end of the three quarters, you might look like rookies playing against veterans. The New York Knicks beat the Los Angeles Lakers by 112-100 at Madison Square Garden, giving LeBron James a hard time in his 32nd game at the venue. Thanks to exhilarating performances of OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet, who scored 25 and 23 points, respectively.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, nobody scored more than 15 points except Luka Dončić (30 points) and LeBron James (22 points). DeAndre Ayton tried his best and scored 13 crucial points, but it was never enough to help the Los Angeles Lakers break their agonising run. With this defeat, the Lakers now have 19 losses and 29 wins and are in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, whereas the New York Knicks are looking strong at second in the Eastern Conference with 31 wins and 18 losses.

Also read || Lakers vs Clippers Heartbreaker: Kawhi Leonard Shines as Lakers Stumble

How close were the Lakers to winning this match?

The Lakers have a 50% win record over the last 10 matches. They have played close games, except for the 30-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on 28th January 2026. The absence of Austin Reaves, Bronny James and Adou Thiero was felt during the game. The team is consistently struggling on defence and relies on LeBron James and Luka Dončić's individual performances.

The match started with a bang, and the Lakers took an early lead. Their passes were consistent, they were running like beasts, and by the end of the first quarter, they were leading against the mighty Knicks by 30-28. Things were going in favor of the guest team. However, the Knicks were trying to make a comeback but failing by a few inches. The second quarter starts, and the Knicks dominate for a while but can't take the lead, finishing at 54 points, while the Lakers were at 58. The gap was reduced, but the Lakers still led.

That's where the trouble began.

The last two quarters of the game are always super exciting to watch. So far, the Lakers have been the favourites and shown commitment, but their inconsistent defence has started costing them. The New York Knicks made a robust comeback with better passes, agility and endurance on the court. The team, which had been trailing for the last two quarters, strategically utilised its energy and took the lead from the Los Angeles Lakers. JJ Redick's men looked distracted, and the Knicks took an 8-point lead by slowing the Lakers to 82 points. The score was 88-78, and the Knicks started looking much stronger.

The final quarter was the most exciting one. Both teams were playing with their full energy. While the Knicks wanted to maintain their six-game streak, the Lakers wanted to keep their momentum from the last game. However, the fantastic performances by OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet changed the game's fate for the Lakers, and the Knicks secured their much-deserved victory.

Also read || Jimmy Butler’s Shocking Knee Injury: Warriors Face Uncertain Road Ahead

Road to playoffs for Knicks and Lakers

It does not matter if you are a Knicks fan or a Lakers fan; true basketball fans want competitive games and the best teams in the playoffs. Currently, the New York Knicks are in a red-hot form. They have 31 wins and 18 losses, putting them in second place in the Eastern Conference. They are very much in control with their strong defence, exceptional long-range shooting, and consistency on the court. If they keep playing like this, they're in there for a deep playoff run.

Despite being some of the favourites in their division, the Los Angeles Lakers' struggles are evident to non-basketball experts as well. Their match performances are a combination of crests and troughs; they look hyper-dominant in one game, and lose another game by an inch. The team is heavily relying on star players, and the recent injuries have made their defence look terrible. To reach the playoffs smoothly, they must improve their defensive consistency and win more games against weaker opponents.