In a blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves through the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the most stunning moves in league history by acquiring superstar Luka Dončić in a three-team deal. The move immediately paid dividends as Dončić led the Lakers to a dramatic 113-109 overtime victory over the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena.
The game was nothing short of a thriller. Down by double digits in the fourth quarter, the Lakers staged a stunning comeback, fueled by the dynamic duo of Dončić and LeBron James. The momentum shift forced overtime, setting the stage for an electrifying finish.
Los Angeles seized control early in the extra period, but Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson refused to back down. The 28-year-old guard carried New York’s offense, scoring all eight of his team’s overtime points. However, disaster struck when Brunson drove to the rim with just over a minute left and suffered a painful ankle twist after being fouled by Lakers guard Austin Reaves. Though he managed to sink his free throws, he limped off to the locker room moments later and did not return.
Brunson finished the game with an impressive 39 points and 10 assists. But in his absence, the Lakers capitalized, knocking down six clutch free throws—four of them courtesy of James in the final 40 seconds—to seal their eighth consecutive victory and improve to 40-21 for the season.
Dončić delivered a masterclass performance, tallying 32 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, and four steals. James was equally dominant, contributing 31 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. Speaking to TNT after the game, Dončić acknowledged the challenge of beating a tough Knicks squad.
“They’re a great team,” Dončić said. “They have great players, and it’s a tough win. Now, we’ve got eight in a row, and every game is a battle for us.”
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The loss marked the Knicks’ second straight defeat, dropping them to 40-22. They had several chances to clinch the game but failed to capitalize. Despite controlling much of the contest with strong defensive stops and timely shooting, New York unraveled in the closing minutes as a 10-1 Lakers run in the fourth quarter flipped the script.
Brunson, known for his clutch performances, kept the Knicks in the fight, tying the game with a tough and-1 play with 46 seconds left in regulation. New York had a golden opportunity to win it at the buzzer, but forward Josh Hart was unable to get off a game-winning attempt before time expired.
After the game, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s effort but lamented their inability to close out the contest.
“It came down to the stretch,” Thibodeau told reporters. “A lot of tough plays—we couldn’t get to a loose ball, things like that. Oftentimes, that’s the difference. Overall, I thought the first three-and-a-half quarters were very, very good. Obviously, we have to close out better.”
New York will have little time to regroup as they face the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Lakers kick off a four-game road trip with a highly anticipated showdown against their arch-rivals, the Boston Celtics, on Saturday.
