Kristaps Porzingis Scores 37 Points, Knicks Snap Lakers’ 2-Game Winning Streak
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden for the first time in his career, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and the young Los Angeles Lakers rose to the occasion but fell to the New York Knicks, 113-109.

After the Lakers forced Kristaps Porzingis into a tough shot, Kuzma connected on a game-tying 3-pointer with just under 24 seconds remaining in the game. Porzingis missed a buzzer-beater but in overtime the Knicks pulled away by attacking Ball on the box.

Ball’s highlights included flushing down a one-handed slam dunk on a fast-break lob pass. That started a third-quarter stretch for Ball in which he scored seven consecutive points.

The dunk was followed by a 3-pointer on a pick-and-roll, and the same sequence led to a left-handed layup on the next trip down the floor.

Lakers head coach Luke Walton stuck with Ball during minutes that previously had been going to Jordan Clarkson off the bench. While Ball remained on the floor, he was forced to come out after bumping knees with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and limping through multiple possessions.

In an uptempo and entertaining, albeit at times sloppy game, the Lakers struggled to get enough stops on defense. They did force a turnover while trailing by four points with under a minute left in overtime, only to come up empty on their possession — a missed Caldwell-Pope 3-point attempt.

Porzingis scored 12 points in the first quarter, had 17 by halftime, and finished with a game-high 37. He was particularly effective from deep, connecting on 5-of-8 attempts. Michael Beasley (13 points) was one of three Knicks players off the bench to hit double-figures in scoring, and the team had six such players overall.

Caldwell-Pope led the Lakers with 22 points, followed by 17 from Ball. Kuzma led all bench scorers with 19 points, while also grabbing six rebounds. Ball dished out a team-high six assists, and was second among all Lakers with eight rebounds.

For as well as he’s played of late, Brandon Ingram seemingly disappeared against the Knicks. He missed all six of his shots in the first quarter and his first 10 before converting on a three-point play late in the third quarter.

Ingram finished the game with just five points on 2-for-12 shooting. Beyond missed shots, he didn’t attack the basket with the same aggression and mindset to score and turned the ball over five times.

The loss was the Lakers’ first of the four-game road trip, which concludes Thursday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? CHECK OUT THE NEW LAKERS NATION FORUM CLUB

You May Also Like

Nuggets vs. Lakers Game Preview & TV Info: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Out

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing the Denver Nuggets on Monday to conclude the season series and, most…

Spurs Vs. Lakers Game Preview & TV Info: Anthony Davis Questionable

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to extend their winning streak as they return to Staples Center to host the San…

Recap: D’Angelo Russell Leads Way As Lakers Dominate Pistons

The Los Angeles Lakers were coming off a rough loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, but they got a golden opportunity to right the ship…

Lakers Vs. Kings Preview & TV Info: Lonzo Ball Hopes To Play, Transition Defense Figures To Be Tested With Fast-Pace Offenses

While the Los Angeles Lakers appear to finally be generating some traction, with wins in three of their last four games, they’ll have to keep it going on the road…