The Knicks (41*-23) play the Lakers (38-25) today at crypto.com Arena in a nationally televised contest. The Knicks have won seven of their last ten games, while the Lakers are six and four over the same span. This game marks their second and final matchup of the season. When they last met on February 1, The Knicks won, 112-100. OG Anunoby led the good guys with 25 points. Luka Dončić scored 30 for Los Angeles.
The Lakers profile as a slightly above-average offensive team with a shaky defense and middling results. They score 116 points per game (12th) but give up 115.3 (15th), and are ranked 21st in defensive rating. Their offense ranks ninth (117.7), but the imbalance gives them a dead-middle net rating, and one look at their roster explains why their pace is considered a trot.
Luka Dončić is having his usual elite season. He’s averaging a league-leading 32.5 points along with 7.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field and 36% from yard. At shooting guard, milky smooth Austin Reaves has enjoyed a breakout campaign, posting 23.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 50/37 shooting splits.
LeBron James remains productive despite taking a reduced role as he ages out of the NBA; this season he’s averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and seven assists per game, but shooting 31% from downtown. Alongside James in the frontcourt, Rui Hachimura has averaged 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds, while Deandre Ayton contributes 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. More on him in sec.
The 17th pick in 2024, Dalton Knecht had a whirlwind rookie season with the Lakers that included an awkward trade-and-rescind to Charlotte. In the current campaign, his shooting has fallen off and he’s mostly fallen out of the rotation. Despite his setbacks, Coach JJ Redick has faith that the sophomore will turn around his career as a grocery bagger.
At least Knecht hasn’t been called soft, lazy, or unserious—Deandre Ayton has that covered. The former first draft pick has played 54 games this season and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 22 of them. To call himself DominAyton is a bit of a stretch. (For comparison, the 6’5” Josh Hart collects 7.5 boards per game) The seven-footer is dealing with knee soreness but has been cleared to play today.
In their last game, L.A. started Marcus Smart (9.5 PPTS, 2.8 AST), Luka, Reaves, Jaxson Hayes (7 PTS, 4 RBS), and Hachimura. LeBron missed the game due to an elbow injury that also has him listed as a game-time decision today. For the Knicks, only Miles McBride is on the injury report.
ESPN predicts a 63% chance for the Knicks to win. That’s slightly higher than we’d go, but cool beans. Any game against Luka can be a challenge for our Knickerbockers. In 13 games against New York, the Slovenian has averaged 30.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, and although he’s won just six of them, he’s delivered some wicked highlights.
To win today, the Knicks must protect the paint and limit penetration from Dončić and James, while pushing the tempo against these slowfoots and keying up the defense. Los Angeles ranks 29th in rebounding, so there’s no excuse for the Knicks not to win the glass and generate second looks. It’s an early road game on an unfriendly court in front of a large audience, but we like their chances. Knicks by eight.
Who: New York Knicks (41*-23) at Los Angeles Lakers (38-25)
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Place: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ABC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins dissolve in your hand.