The Lakers managed to take care of business on Thursday as they opened a very difficult portion of their schedule carrying a seven-game winning streak. They had outscored opponents by an average of nearly 12 points per game during the streak, fueled largely by a defense that has been ranked No. 1 in the NBA since the All-Star break.
The Knicks, though, gave the Lakers a much rougher go of it at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, holding a 90-80 lead with 6:57 to go in the fourth quarter. But the Lakers came back with a 19-6 run and sent the game into overtime. They came away with a 113-109 win behind 32 points from Luka Doncic.
Afte the game, Doncic was eager to hand out credit to lesser-recognized Lakers like Gabe Vincent, who made a bit 3-pointer with 1:21 to play in regulation, and center Jaxson Hayes, who made the free throws in overtime to give the Lakers a lead.
I think we have a great team, we have great players,” Doncic said. “Chemistry is building. We have great guys. I am just happy to be part of this.”
That may be the scary part for the rest of the NBA–the Lakers’ chemistry is coming together, which will make a team built around likely Hall of Famers LeBron James and Doncic that much better.
The Lakers have a brutal schedule ahead. The team is traveling to Boston on Saturday, as part of a four-game, week-long road trip that also goes through Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Denver.
It’s a tough trip–the Celtics are the defending champs and have the third-best record in the NBA, while the Bucks are fourth in the East and have won eight of their last nine. The Nuggets are in an essential tie with the Lakers for the No. 2 seed in the West, and are 12-3 in their last 15.
