Knicks Rally in the Second Half to Outlast Lakers, Extend Win Streak to Six
At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks did what good teams do-they adjusted, locked in, and closed strong. After a sluggish first half that saw them trailing by four, New York came out of the locker room with renewed energy and outscored the Lakers 60-44 the rest of the way, pulling off a 112-100 win. That’s six straight for the Knicks, and this one came with a little bit of everything: grit, shot-making, and timely defense.
A Tale of Two Halves
Early on, it looked like the Lakers had the edge. They attacked the paint with purpose, while the Knicks leaned heavily on the perimeter.
The first couple of threes dropped, but when the shots stopped falling, L.A. took advantage. They found easy buckets in transition and through simple, effective actions-like lobs to Deandre Ayton-that kept New York chasing.
But the Knicks didn’t flinch. Even with 15 lead changes, they stayed within striking distance, and when it mattered most, they found their rhythm.
KAT’s All-Star Night
Karl-Anthony Towns had himself a night, and not just because he was named to his sixth All-Star Game earlier in the day. The big man made his presence felt early on the glass, though foul trouble limited his first-quarter impact.
Still, he settled in and delivered a strong all-around performance: 11 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a team-best +23 in 32 minutes. He stayed disciplined after those early whistles and anchored the paint in a way that doesn’t always show up in the box score.
Brunson Steers the Ship, OG Sets the Tone
Jalen Brunson didn’t have his most explosive scoring night, but he was the engine of the offense. With 12 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds, he controlled pace and found his teammates in spots where they could thrive. OG Anunoby, meanwhile, came out firing-11 of his 25 points came in the first quarter, setting an aggressive tone that helped keep the Knicks afloat during some choppy stretches.
Luka Does Luka Things
On the other side, Luka Dončić was, well, Luka. He finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, and for large stretches, he looked like he might take over the game entirely. He had 18 points and seven boards at the half and was the main reason the Lakers carried a 56-52 lead into the break.
The Lakers shot better overall in the first half (49% to 43%) and won the paint battle, but the Knicks had the edge from deep and on the boards. The game was still very much up for grabs.
Second-Half Surge
Then came the third quarter, and with it, a shift in tempo and energy. The Knicks opened on a 12-7 run to retake the lead, and from there, they never looked back.
Josh Hart was relentless-cutting, defending, and hitting timely shots. He finished with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and his constant movement gave the Lakers fits.
Towns added six points and six boards in the quarter, and the trio of Hart, Anunoby, and Landry Shamet was lights out. At one point, they were a combined 18-of-27 for 50 points, while the rest of the team was just 16-of-53. That kind of efficiency from your wings can swing a game, and it did.
When Luka tried to rally the Lakers with a 9-2 run, the Knicks punched right back. Anunoby threw down back-to-back dunks, and Shamet cashed in a breakaway layup that brought the Garden to its feet. That 15-5 run gave the Knicks an eight-point cushion heading into the fourth.
Shamet Turns Up the Heat
Landry Shamet was the unexpected X-factor. He poured in 23 points off the bench, hitting 6-of-10 from deep and giving the Knicks a much-needed scoring lift.
Every time the Lakers threatened late, Shamet had an answer. Whether it was a corner three or a dagger from the wing, he delivered.
Tyler Kolek also gave the Knicks a spark in the second quarter, contributing eight points and four assists in just 13 minutes. His five straight points midway through the second helped New York briefly take the lead before halftime.
Closing Time
In the fourth, the Knicks matched the Lakers blow for blow. Bridges and Anunoby finished inside, Hart hit a big three, and the defense tightened up.
One of the game’s defining moments came with about three minutes to play: Hart played Luka straight up, forced a tough shot as the clock expired, and avoided the foul. On the very next possession, Anunoby threw down a dunk that effectively sealed the game.
Marcus Smart hit a late three for the Lakers, but Shamet answered with two more from deep in the final 90 seconds to put it away for good.
What’s Next
The Knicks are rolling. That’s six in a row, and they’re doing it with a mix of star power, role-player excellence, and defensive grit. If they keep getting this kind of production from their bench and maintain the balance between Brunson’s orchestration and Anunoby’s aggression, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone.
As for the Lakers, Luka was brilliant, but the supporting cast couldn’t match New York’s depth and execution down the stretch. This one’s a reminder that even with a superstar, you need a full team effort to close out games-especially at the Garden.