Jalen Brunson’s 29 points, including a crucial 11 in the fourth quarter, propelled the New York Knicks to a 114-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, despite LeBron James’ impressive 109th career triple-double of his NBA career.
Julius Randle contributed 27 points and 14 rebounds, and Immanuel Quickley added 20 points, aiding the Knicks in withstanding a late Lakers rally. Brunson emphasized the importance of resilience and the need to build on their victories.
“We took a step forward tonight, and we’re going to try to keep moving forward,” Brunson said. “We’re learning how to bounce back, but we’ve got to continue to stack wins. You can’t be comfortable after just one. Keep stacking them, keep being resilient, and just stick together.”
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James acknowledged the Lakers’ fluctuating energy levels with a rare 25-point triple-double in his 21st NBA season. Anthony Davis also stood out with 32 points and 14 rebounds, but the Lakers struggled to convert crucial opportunities in the closing moments.
“I feel like our energy was up and down throughout the course of the game,” James said. “We’ve been feeling it, definitely. Even through that, we still competed and gave ourselves a chance, but it’s a tough one for us.”
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The Knicks maintained their lead despite a strong push from James, who scored consecutive baskets to narrow the gap. However, Randle’s timely three-pointer and subsequent dunk kept the Knicks ahead. The Lakers, hindered by a less effective supporting cast, found themselves outperformed in the paint, a rare occurrence noted by Lakers coach Darvin Ham.
“It’s very rare we get outscored in the paint, and (the Knicks) were very deliberate in trying to play downhill, get to the paint, but just constantly coming at you,” Ham said. “I felt like they caught us standing a little bit.”
New York faces various injuries to key players, mainly at center between Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims. Isaiah Hartenstein stepped up with a significant contribution of nine points and 17 rebounds. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s mental toughness and adaptability amid adversity.
“We knew we would be challenged in this way to be mentally tough, to get through adversity,” Thibodeau said. “There’s going to be some bumps. We took on a big injury, and I think the guys stepping in have been terrific. You need everybody, and we’ve got different guys, someone different almost every night.”
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For the Lakers, Austin Reaves’ 20 points weren’t enough to secure a win, even with the return of Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and Cam Reddish from injuries. Davis spoke about the challenges of an extended road schedule and the mental toll it takes.
“It’s tough, (because) for the whole month of December, we’ve basically been on the road,” Davis said. “There’s nothing we can really do about it. It’s the schedule.
“We’ve just got to take care of our bodies and get some guys back, hopefully in the next couple of games,” Davis explained. “But it’s definitely a mental challenge.”
Looking ahead, the Knicks face the Brooklyn Nets next, while the Lakers take on the Chicago Bulls, both games scheduled for Wednesday.
