The Lakers rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit before ultimately prevailing in overtime during Thursday’s victory over the Knicks. Los Angeles has now won eight straight and 20 of its past 24 games.
As Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes, while Luka Doncic and LeBron James each recorded 30-point double-doubles, both superstars credited the team’s supporting cast for the comeback victory. Gabe Vincent, who was limited to just 11 games last season due to a knee injury, made three three-pointers late in the fourth quarter. Doncic said those timely shots “won the game.”
“It’s part of why I’m here,” Vincent said. “Part of why I’m here is what I’ve done at those moments late in the season. So just try and take the experience I’ve had and built and just try to continue to keep up with winning games.”
The Lakers also received important contributions from rookie forward Dalton Knecht (11 points, four rebounds), starting center Jaxson Hayes (eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks) and backup center Trey Jemison (seven points, four rebounds), McMenamin notes.
“There’s no such thing as non-key players on this team,” James said. “Everybody is key. And everybody who steps on the floor has a role and they go in and match that. And I thought our bench gave us a great lift once again and Gabe was — I’ll single him out — he was spectacular. His play both on the defensive end and obviously his shooting, we needed it.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Jovan Buha and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic share their takeaways from Thursday’s matchup between the Lakers and Knicks. As we relayed in another story, the biggest news from the game was Knicks star Jalen Brunson suffering a right ankle injury in overtime.
- He struggled in the game, going just 2-of-13 from the field in 32 minutes, but it was a positive development that Austin Reaves was able to return from a right calf strain, per Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group. Reaves had missed the past two contests with the injury. “The imaging we got kind of relieved any fears we had,” head coach JJ Redick said before Thursday’s game. “It’s just been more about him feeling comfortable and ready to play. He’s just had an overall great season. He’s been solid – more than solid. He’s been really good through each iteration of this team this season. And I think the more time that him, Bron and Luka could just all be on the court together and get comfortable is good for us going into this home stretch.”
- Although it’s largely a coincidence, since they happened to sign him right when their hot streak began, the Lakers have yet to lose a game in which Jemison has appeared for them in 2024/25, tweets Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Jemison, who is on a two-way contract, is a candidate to be promoted to the standard roster, as two-way players aren’t eligible for the postseason. The Lakers are now 13-0 when Jemison plays.
Gabe’s been terrific the past two weeks. Finney-Smith seems to be finding an important role for himself since Hachimura went down and he’s playing very well. Reaves looks a little lost actually with Luka. I think they should make him a 30 minute per 6th man. Maybe he’s just dinged up, but he’s looked off for a couple full weeks now. They MUST upgrade Jemison!!!! He’s a huge liability. He’s a beast, but he’s a definite bottom of the barrel option. Jax has been doing just fine, but I really hope for their sake someone better becomes available.
I’m curious to see if Reaves will start coming off the bench. Unless somebody decent was cut before March 1st, there’s nobody the Lakers can sign that would be able to help them in the playoffs. Since the Mark Williams trade didn’t work out, it appears they have to make it work with their current squad. Center will be a priority in the off-season.
Well yeah. They’re rolling with who they got this year. It’s a shame, they really are actually a piece away from being a juggernaut. The two of these guys play really beautifully together.
Gabe has been in a huge slump the last 2 weeks till last night
Only his shooting has been off. Every point he gives you is gravy, what’s been great about him is his movement and activity. He’s healthy and he’s playing well. The shots will fall, it’s good he keeps putting them up. Means he’s confident:
Still don’t think he’s 100% healthy.
He’s a big piece to the puzzle tho, I kinda feel him and Vando are the X~Factors to this team
“Stephen A. Smith on confrontation with LeBron James: He told me to mind what I say about his son“
Steven A thinks too highly of himself. He’s all noise and less substance. Like most critics today. Its all about, “listen to me” “Hear me”. The louder and most critical for attention. Don’t care about facts or the truth. He literally is saying Bron knows where to reach me and how to find me …… Even mentions his agents …… WTF is Steven A. This is Brons world. And he will deal with your noise. However and whenever ……….. this is whats really wrong with the NBA. Players are the SHOW. And we are all invited. Respect the game ……. Tool
link to hoopshype.com
Many feel different than you on LeBron. His son has no business being on an NBA roster.
lol, you do the same thing Stephen A does all day on here! He’s just better than you at it. Jealous much? Haters gonna hate.
Jemison’s a lucky charm
Knicks had the game last night. Lakers never stopped coming. Gotta give them credit. Their team D is better. Bron at 40 is still an all star. Luka is playing better. Not just scoring. Good sign to me. Lakers look good. But a 7 gm series is different. Lakers schedule about to get tougher. Holding unto 2nd seed is going to get rough. Second seed would give them an easier road in playoffs.
I don’t think it matters if it’s a seven game series when it comes to Luka and Bron. Luka and Bron are two of the best playmakers in NBA history. You go in with a game plan to contain Luka then Bron will kill you and vice versa. You have to try to contain both and the only team in the West that has the defensive players to do so is OKC.
Lakers are small. If they are not hitting shots. Or getting good D. They are in trouble. Nuggets, OKC, Minny, Grizz, even Rockets can go big. All about matchups in a series. I’ll take teams that can matchup or change it up.
Where’s Goodwin?
Watching Luka taking over primary ball handling duties has reminded us all how f how great LeBron really is when he’s used the way he was meant to. He is not a PG. 5 years of this experiment where he’s been terrific but less dominant. We assumed it was aging, but it had a lot to do with usage too. LeBron as the scondary ball handler is the most devastatingly effective player ever. Luka is a magician, their games are so compatible. It has been so beautiful to watch.
Nico collins will win gm of the year for the wrong team
Strange game, you woulda thought you were at a neutral cite game for the first 44 mins . Nyk crowd came out in masses last night and our crowd was quite as a church mouse till the last 4 mins
I honestly thought the biggest plays were just Jax and LBJ hitting 4/4 fts the last 2 mins. Ive been rough on Hayes this year but he’s got nice touch on the ft line, Daltons 3 to beat the 3rd quarter buzzer was a nice shot in the arm too, we were dead at that point
*Brunson was so good last night, best player on the court by a mile
Thump City!
link to images.app.goo.gl
Same thing happened to Davey J. As this girl.
With Steph. Except when Davey cried. Steph ran away far far away lol ……..
Haha ha ha ha ga ga haha ga