The Lakers got a much-needed win Tuesday night, snapping their two-game losing streak (and their four-game streak of dropping overtime games), when they took down the Knicks 129-123.
With LeBron and Anthony Davis returning to game action after missing Monday's loss vs. the Nets, and Patrick Beverley sitting out with knee soreness, the Lakers had an opportunity to form a new starting lineup and decided to go with a bigger group that included Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown, and Dennis Schröder next to Bron and AD. This group's size gave the Lakers a look they have not always had available to them, and the team benefited early defensively.
Whether it was an ability to switch more actions against a bigger Knicks team, cover more ground in their rotations, or better contest shots all over the floor, this bigger, longer group gave a different look defensively that helped establish an early tone that served the Lakers well over the course of the entire game.
Offensively, Hachimura was the tone setter early, racing out in transition for easy baskets and then using his height to shoot over the top with his pull up jumper in the half court. Rui scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half, mostly just by taking the opportunities provided to him by a Knicks defense loading up to slow down Lebron and AD and the open court chances that came from an active Lakers defense.
Even though the defense was geared up to stop them, Bron and AD still found ways to get themselves going, even if it took a little bit of time.
LeBron came out aggressive early on, but couldn't quite get his shot to fall, knocking down four of his first 10 shots from the floor to end the first half with nine points. As the game went on, however, he was able to find his rhythm, matching his 1st half point total in the 3rd quarter alone and then adding another 10 points over the 4th quarter and OT to score 28 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double and a team-best +22 in the box score.
Additionally, with those assists, LeBron passed both Mark Jackson and Steve Nash to move into 4th on the NBA's all-time assists list. Just another reminder of the brilliance LeBron exhibits as a passer and shot creator for his teammates.
As for AD, he added 27 points and 9 rebounds, going 9-16 from the field and 9-11 from the foul line. Still coming back from his foot injury, Davis didn't have his same explosiveness or quick-twitch movements around the floor, but adjusted well using a combination of power to get to key spots on the floor and then his great touch around the paint to get several shots to fall after they bounced around the rim.
Despite these strong performances, however, the Knicks were able to hang tough and stay connected throughout the game due to a strong night from Jalen Brunson and a ferocious attacking of the offensive glass. Brunson attacked the paint relentlessly enroute to 37 points on 13-29 field goals -- including the tying basket that would force OT -- while making all nine of his free throw attempts. And then, as a team, the Knicks grabbed 13 offensive rebounds for 15 second chance points to keep them in the game until the end.
And while these efforts drove the Knicks into the extra period, once there, it was Russell Westbrook who took control. Russ tallied three of his eight assists in the overtime and totally controlled the action and flow of the Lakers offense in those extra five minutes.
Running a simple, yet effective side pick-and-roll action with AD from the left side, Russ set up an easy basket for AD and later a critical bank shot of his own that extended the Lakers lead to give them a seven-point lead, which was the cushion they needed to finally start to feel comfortable to put the game away. Russ would finish the game with 17 points on 7-13 shooting, to go along with six rebounds, three steals, and those aforementioned eight assists.
The Lakers will continue their road trip on Thursday when they travel to Indiana to play the Pacers.