Lakers Hold Off Knicks for Wire-to-Wire Win

LeBron James sits out with injury as Luke Doncic leads Lakers to victory

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New York Knicks 110-97 in a wire-to-wire victory on Sunday, despite LeBron James sitting out due to a bruised left elbow and left foot arthritis. Luke Doncic scored 35 points to lead the Lakers, including 14 in the third quarter when they outscored the Knicks 34-20. The Lakers built a big lead in the fourth quarter but had to hold off a late Knicks rally.

Why it matters

The Lakers' win over the Knicks showcases their ability to win without their superstar LeBron James, as well as the continued emergence of Luke Doncic as a dominant scoring threat. The game also highlights the Knicks' struggles to consistently compete against top teams in the league.

The details

The Lakers weathered some shaky moments in the fourth quarter, as they missed 10 straight shots before Doncic made a key layup and 3-pointer in the final minutes to seal the victory. Austin Reaves added 25 points and made some key defensive plays against Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. The Knicks were led by Karl-Anthony Towns' 25 points and 16 rebounds, but Brunson struggled, shooting 8-of-19 from the field and committing 7 turnovers.

  • The Lakers took a 31-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.
  • The Lakers built a 54-49 lead at halftime.
  • The Lakers outscored the Knicks 34-20 in the third quarter to take an 88-69 lead into the fourth.

The players

Luke Doncic

The Lakers' star player who scored 35 points, including 14 in the third quarter, to lead his team to victory.

LeBron James

The Lakers' superstar who sat out the game due to a bruised left elbow and left foot arthritis.

Karl-Anthony Towns

The Knicks' leading scorer with 25 points and 16 rebounds.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' starting guard who struggled, shooting 8-of-19 from the field and committing 7 turnovers.

Austin Reaves

The Lakers' guard who added 25 points and made key defensive plays against Brunson in the final minutes.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcases the Lakers' depth and ability to win without their superstar LeBron James, as well as the continued development of Luke Doncic as a dominant scorer. However, it also highlights the Knicks' struggles to consistently compete against top teams in the league, as they were unable to overcome the Lakers' strong start and ultimately fell short.