A back-to-back set of games in New York City for the Los Angeles Lakers started with a loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday as LeBron James and Anthony Davis were held out.
On Tuesday, they headed across the East River into midtown Manhattan to take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and both teams treated the crowd to a decent show.
After a somewhat desultory first half, Los Angeles started to turn it on in the third quarter by scoring 34 points. But after taking a seven-point lead midway through the fourth period, it allowed the hometown team to fight back and force overtime.
Rebounding was a problem, as Los Angeles gave up 13 offensive rebounds and 15 second-chance points. It also allowed Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ newest star, to explode for 37 points.
In overtime, the Lakers took control, outscoring New York, 15-9, to take a 129-123 victory. They badly needed this win, as they have been starting to slip out of the Western Conference playoff picture.