New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers Live Score and Stats – March 8, 2026 Gametracker
Over the previous six weeks, the New York Knicks have resembled a crew that many count on to make one other deep playoff run.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are nonetheless holding onto the Pacific Division lead regardless of some mediocre outcomes of late.
Coming off a powerful exhibiting to start out a 5-recreation highway journey, the Knicks can clinch their fourth straight profitable season Sunday afternoon once they go to the Lakers, who’re in search of a fourth straight house win and are two video games above the play-in bubble.
New York misplaced 4 straight from Jan. 14-19 as a part of a stretch when it misplaced 9 of 11. Since then, the Knicks are 16-5 have and scored at the very least 120 factors eight instances throughout that span, together with Friday’s spectacular 142-103 win within the altitude over the Denver Nuggets.
New York scored its second-most factors and shot 57.9% for its second-finest taking pictures efficiency regardless of Jalen Brunson being held to 9 factors on 3-of-13 taking pictures.
The Knicks confirmed they will compensate for Brunson’s quiet night time as OG Anunoby scored a season-excessive 34 factors, whereas Josh Hart completed with 18 and Karl Anthony-Towns collected 17 and 13 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double.
“This team, it’s deep, it’s really good,” New York coach Mike Brown mentioned. “These guys are connected. They’re all sacrificing. The competitive spirit is there. They believe in each other. Our bench is up all game.
“We acquired delays of video games as a result of our bench was up for one another. And we’re holding one another accountable. I’m being held accountable, which is nice.”
The Lakers took a 112-100 loss in New York on Feb. 1 when they were outscored 60-44 in the second half during the final game of Austin Reaves’ absence due to a right calf injury. Los Angeles won three straight immediately after, beating the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors.
Since Feb. 7, Los Angeles has split its past 12 contests, although it is 4-1 in its past five since a three-game losing streak Feb. 22-26.
The Lakers are coming off a 128-117 win over the Indiana Pacers that marked the fourth time they eclipsed 120 points since the All-Star break. Luka Doncic scored 44 points in three quarters as the Lakers shot 52.9% and hit 17 3s.
“I had my legs,” Doncic said. “They have been working. But we undoubtedly wanted to win this recreation so we got here out aggressive and made a press release.”
Doncic had his 10th 40-point game this season, joining Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West as the fourth player in team history with at least 10 40-point games in a season.
Doncic’s big game was needed since LeBron James and DeAndre Ayton sat out. James missed the game after bruising his left elbow in Thursday’s 120-113 loss at Denver, while Ayton sat with knee soreness that limited him to the opening 4 1/2 minutes Thursday.
James is day-to-day but seems more likely to play, while Ayton may sit out again with a lingering ailment.
Without James and Ayton, the Lakers inserted Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura into the starting frontcourt. The duo combined for 22 points and seven rebounds, while the Lakers got 19 points from Reaves and 15 from Luke Kennard.
“You play groups which are enjoying profitable basketball and (have) profitable data, it undoubtedly can construct some confidence within the group,” Kennard said. “But I do know even a few of the shut video games we have misplaced only in the near past, I do know we have performed some actually good issues. We know what we’ve got within the locker room and on this group.”
–Field Level Media
