Lakers Edge Knicks in OT Thriller, Set for Showdown in Boston

Crypto Arena was an absolute scene on Thursday evening.

The likes of Spike Lee, Timothee Chalamet, Larry David, Ben Stiller, and other A-Listers were in attendance to watch the New York Knicks versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

And boy…the game did not disappoint.

The Lakers outlasted the Knicks by a score of 113-109 in overtime. It was a true game of runs — with the Lakers coming out of the gate with some real verve before New York controlled large stretches of the game by double-digits. Invariably, the Lakers made a big run in the fourth quarter courtesy of LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

With Rui Hachimura out injured and Austin Reaves rusty returning from an injury, the dynamic duo picked up the scoring slack by combining for 63 points. For good measure, James notched 12 rebounds and 8 assists. Doncic accrued 12 assists and 7 rebounds.

Doncic and James hit massive threes in the fourth and in overtime. Whenever the Knicks threw a potent jab, the Lakers came back with a lethal right hook.

Jalen Brunson was an absolute stud in this game. The Knicks guard scored 39 points and dropped 10 assists before leaving the game in overtime with what appears to be a badly sprained ankle. LA couldn’t keep him out of the lane — and it illustrates perhaps the greatest weakness the Lakers have: the inability to defend an elite point guard. Brunson’s masterful change-of-pace method was on full display in this contest. The Knicks will surely be praying he doesn’t miss an extended amount of time. He’s arguably the team’s only shot creator off the bounce — and he’s absolutely one of the best in the league in that capacity.

An underrated element of this game was LA’s defense. The team uncharacteristically allowed the Knicks to score 60 in the first half. In the second half, New York managed only 39 points. The Lakers’ activity went up another level, and there’s a grittiness present with this group that hasn’t been in LA since the bubble title team.

Now, all eyes will be on Saturday — as the Lakers head to Boston to take on the Celtics in what could be the marquee game of the NBA season.