Updated March 7, 2026, 6:50 p.m. PT
The Los Angeles Lakers have had an utter lack of wins this season against good teams. On Sunday, they will look to do something about that deficiency when they host the New York Knicks.
The Knicks have been hot lately. They have won 16 of their last 21 games and are one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals. They boast one of the best starting fives in all of basketball, which is led by All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, the reigning Clutch Player of the Year.
For Los Angeles, LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber were out of action on Friday when it defeated the Indiana Pacers 128-117. Ayton is expected to play after dealing with knee soreness, while James and Kleber are questionable.
Even if everyone is available for the Lakers, they will have a very difficult time against New York on Sunday. New York is third in offensive rating, and lately, its defense has been outstanding as well. It has several players who can do substantial damage offensively, and it has one of the NBA’s best center rotations with All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and the very tenacious Mitchell Robinson behind him.
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