Game ID: 22500922
New York Knicks @ Los Angeles Lakers
Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 31 23 34 22 110NYK 23 26 20 28 97
LAL vs NYK ScoutingLAL vs NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 3/01 · back-to-backOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 2/26, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 30)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 25 min since (93% of 27)
LAL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 30)
LAL availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 4 min (24% of 17)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 20 min since (69% of 30)
LAL availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Smith Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 4 min since (24% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 10 min (97% of 10)
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 12 min since (71% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 3 since 3/06, returns tonight: 33 min (98% of 34)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
NEW Hayes 18 to 23 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 21 min (116% of 18)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 33 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 12 min since (72% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 14 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Hayes back 3/14 after 2, 21 min since (116% of 18)
NYK availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 14 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 2/19 after 4, 34 min since (100% of 33)
BACK Clarkson back 2/24 after 3, 4 min since (22% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 2/24 after 3, 4 min since (37% of 11)
NEW Alvarado 14 to 20 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 15 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 2/24 after 3, 4 min since (22% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 2/24 after 3, 4 min since (32% of 11)
NEW Alvarado 14 to 19 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backOUT McBride missed 16 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Clarkson missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kolek back 2/24 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NYK availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 17 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Clarkson missed 3 since 3/01, returns tonight: 7 min (43% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 2/24 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 11)
NYK availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 18 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 3/06 after 3, 7 min since (43% of 16)
NYK availability going into 3/09 · back-to-backOUT McBride missed 19 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 3/06 after 3, 9 min since (52% of 16)
NYK availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 20 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 3/06 after 3, 7 min since (41% of 16)
NYK availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 21 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 3/06 after 3, 12 min since (71% of 16)
NYK availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 31 min (100% of 31)
OUT McBride missed 22 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 3/06 after 3, 13 min since (80% of 16)
NEW Shamet 21 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 21 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 20 and Anunoby at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without McBride (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-13 a night and the Lakers minus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to the Lakers' 109. Call it the Lakers 114, New York 113, New York keeping it close.
3/01 vs SAC 128-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 128-104. LAL shot 50% (47 of 94) to SAC's 47%, 18 of 39 from three, and went to the line 22 times to SAC's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 14. LAL turned it over 9 times to SAC's 20. The glass went 37-52 against them. Dončić led with 28 (10 of 16, 4 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); L. James added 24, Reaves 12. The hinge was Q1, 36-18: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 30. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/03 vs NOP 110-101 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-101. LAL shot 47% (39 of 83) to NOP's 42%, 11 of 37 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NOP's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 17. Dončić led with 27 (10 of 22, 3 of 10 from three); James added 21, Reaves 15. The hinge was Q4, 34-23: LAL came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 9. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/05 @ DEN 113-120 — LAL notes
LAL lost 113-120. LAL took 12 more shots (87 to 75), but shot 52% to DEN's 52%, 13 of 31 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DEN's 31. LAL turned it over 10 times to DEN's 18. Dončić led with 27 (11 of 24, 3 of 10 from three); Hayes added 19, Reaves 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 91-81 against them. LaRavia's -16 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 vs IND 128-117 — LAL notes
LAL won 128-117. LAL shot 53% (45 of 85) to IND's 47%, 17 of 37 from three. LAL turned it over 12 times to IND's 7, and IND turned those into 10 steals. Dončić led with 44 (14 of 25, 7 of 14 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 19, Kennard 15. The hinge was Q1, 35-27: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Kennard was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/08 vs NYK 110-97 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-97. LAL shot 43% (35 of 81) to NYK's 43%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 30 times to NYK's 21 — 25 points from the stripe to their 19. LAL turned it over 13 times to NYK's 18. Dončić led with 35 (11 of 25, 5 of 16 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 25, Hachimura 13. The hinge was Q3, 34-20: a lead of 5 became 19, and the lead reached 23. Smart was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/10 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 20 a game. Without James (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Randle at 14 a game. Without Conley (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Minnesota's 32. Call it the Lakers 115, Minnesota 110.
3/12 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and Reaves at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without James (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sexton at 25 and Buzelis at 23 a game. Without Simons (8 straight), Collins (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Lakers 118, Chicago 112.
3/14 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Hayes (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 30 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 30 free throws a game to the Lakers' 23 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 114 a night to Denver's 122. Call it the Lakers 120, Denver 117, Denver keeping it close.
3/16 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it the Lakers 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/01 vs SAS 114-89 — NYK notes
NYK won 114-89. NYK shot 44% (43 of 97) to SAS's 42%, 17 of 48 from three. NYK turned it over 13 times to SAS's 22. The glass went 54-41 for them. Bridges led with 25 (10 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Brunson added 24, Diawara 14. The hinge was Q4, 34-20: a lead of 11 became 25. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/03 @ TOR 111-95 — NYK notes
NYK won 111-95. NYK shot 57% (46 of 81) to TOR's 45%, 10 of 29 from three, and got to the line 12 times to TOR's 19. The glass went 43-28 for them. Brunson led with 26 (10 of 22, 2 of 7 from three); Towns added 21, Anunoby 15. The hinge was Q4, 24-13: a lead of 5 became 16. Alvarado was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/04 vs OKC 100-103 — NYK notes
NYK lost 100-103. NYK took 15 more shots (88 to 73), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to OKC's 45%, 10 of 35 from three. The glass went 48-38 for them. Towns led with 17 (7 of 8); Brunson added 16, Anunoby 16. Q3 was theirs, 40-27, turning a 10-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 76-60 against them. Towns's -18 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 @ DEN 142-103 — NYK notes
NYK won 142-103. NYK shot 58% (55 of 95) to DEN's 45%, 16 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to DEN's 30. NYK turned it over 10 times to DEN's 15. The glass went 50-31 for them. Anunoby led with 34 (11 of 17, 6 of 11 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Hart added 18, Towns 17. The hinge was Q2, 38-23: NYK came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 42. Shamet was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/08 @ LAL 97-110 — NYK notes
NYK lost 97-110. NYK shot 43% (35 of 82) to LAL's 43%, 8 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to LAL's 30. NYK turned it over 18 times to LAL's 13, and LAL turned those into 10 steals. Towns led with 25 (8 of 17, 1 of 5 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Brunson added 24, Anunoby 13. Q4 was theirs, 28-22, the deficit cut from 19 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 88-69 against them. Shamet's -18 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and Mathurin at 16 a game. Without Collins (4 straight), Bogdanović (5 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 100, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 20 and Towns at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without McBride (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-12 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the defense, New York allowing 100 a night to the Clippers' 112. Call it the Clippers 114, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
3/11 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 26 and Collier at 18 a game. Without Kessler (60 straight), Collier (2 straight), Mykhailiuk (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Towns at 23 and Brunson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without McBride (20 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-13 a night and Utah plus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 107 a night to Utah's 115. Call it New York 117, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.
3/13 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Nembhard at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Siakam (2 straight), McConnell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Towns at 23 and Anunoby at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without McBride (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-11 a night and Indiana minus-7 and the defense, New York allowing 112 a night to Indiana's 125. Call it New York 119, Indiana 112.
3/15 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 24 and Brunson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hart (2 straight), McBride (22 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Melton at 19 and Podziemski at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Ste. Curry (16 straight), Moody (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-11 a night and Golden State minus-5 and the defense, New York allowing 110 a night to Golden State's 119. Call it New York 118, Golden State 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
DA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LK L. Kennard
MK M. Kleber
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
NYKJA J. Alvarado
JB J. Brunson
JC J. Clarkson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diawara
MR M. Robinson
OA O. Anunoby
LAL/NYK the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Luka Doncic scores 35, Lakers hold off cold-shooting Knicks 110-97 in LeBron's absence
LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds, Austin Reaves added 25 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James ' injury absence to grind out a 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
Rui Hachimura scored 13 points for the Lakers, who never trailed the surging Knicks in their fourth consecutive victory even while James missed his second straight game with a bruised left elbow and a left foot injury.
The Lakers slumped in the fourth quarter, managing just one basket in a 6 1/2-minute span down the stretch while New York cut its 23-point deficit to 10. But the Knicks couldn't hit enough shots to capitalize and committed eight turnovers in the fourth.
Luke Kennard made a 3-pointer with 1:37 left before Doncic iced it on his fifth 3-pointer with 1:05 left.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for just the second time in six games.
Jalen Brunson scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, but New York couldn't overcome 8-of-34 shooting on 3-point attempts in the second stop on its five-game trip, which began with an impressive win at Denver . Mikal Bridges went scoreless in 27 minutes.
The Lakers took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter after a 20-8 run. Doncic, who hit an absurd fallaway 3-pointer during the surge, had 28 points after scoring 44 in three quarters while beating Indiana two nights earlier.
Up next Knicks: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.