LeBron James’ appearance at Madison Square Garden, possibly his last, ended in defeat.
With Luka Dončić contributing 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers held a 56-52 advantage against the New York Knicks at halftime on Sunday evening. However, the Knicks launched a 13-5 scoring surge near the end of the third period, transforming a tied score into a 90-82 lead that New York maintained for their eventual 112-100 victory.
Knicks recover after a weak January period
New York secured their win by hitting 18 of 42 three-pointers (43%) and showcasing a well-distributed offense, with six team members reaching double-digit scores and three exceeding 20 points. This win marked the Knicks’ sixth consecutive triumph, following a concerning 2-9 run that reportedly led to a team-exclusive discussion initiated by captain Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks’ record now stands at 31-18, placing them in a tie for second in the Eastern Conference alongside the Boston Celtics, trailing the leading Detroit Pistons. Consequently, the earlier concerns regarding their January downturn have diminished.
The Knicks’ victory overshadowed what could potentially be James’ last appearance in an iconic basketball venue. If this indeed was his farewell, James delivered a solid performance, recording 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. He also provided a season highlight with an impressive alley-oop dunk amidst defenders, boosting the Lakers’ lead early in the third period.
Nonetheless, his efforts were insufficient to overcome a Knicks squad that has recovered its momentum after an an 11-game poor spell.
Could James appear again at Madison Square Garden?
James, currently 41 years old, has not yet declared if he will retire following the current season. However, speculation suggests this might be his last. Should that be the case, he is currently participating in an Eastern Conference road trip that could encompass his concluding games in various rival venues.
Last week in Cleveland, he was visibly moved to tears during a standing ovation and a commemorative video from the Cavaliers, a team he played for across 11 seasons and guided to their inaugural and sole NBA championship in 2016.
No similar homage was offered by the long-standing adversary, the Knicks, on Sunday.
Nevertheless, the pervasive feeling that this could be James’ ultimate appearance on such a prominent basketball platform was undeniable. The match was set during a prime regular season broadcast slot, with NBC resuming its traditional Sunday presence for NBA coverage this season. Furthermore, tickets for James’ potential last game at MSG were exceptionally sought after.
LeBron James might have concluded his playing career at Madison Square Garden.
(Ishika Samant via Getty Images)
Knicks’ team effort surpasses strong showings from Luka and LeBron
In that scenario, Knicks supporters received excellent value. They witnessed an impressive display from James, yet an even more compelling one from their own team in their win. OG Anunoby recorded 25 points and 8 rebounds, Josh Hart contributed 20 points and 4 rebounds, and Landry Shamet added 23 points, including 6 out of 10 successful three-pointers, with each player scoring at least 20 points.
Despite a poor shooting performance (4 of 15), All-Star Jalen Brunson compensated with one of his top distributing performances of the season, accumulating 12 points and 13 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns, who discovered prior to tip-off that he also earned an All-Star nod, similarly found alternative methods to contribute on a less productive scoring evening, finishing with 11 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Dončić spearheaded the Lakers’ effort, achieving 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists, including 5 successful three-pointers out of 14 attempts. However, he was the sole Laker to convert more than two three-pointers on an evening where the team collectively managed only 12 of 42 (29%) from beyond the arc, unable to match New York’s accurate shooting.
Additionally, the Knicks dominated rebounding, securing a 47-36 edge. New York is scheduled to face the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, then return home to host another significant Western Conference contest against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
The Lakers are set to wrap up their eight-game away series with a Tuesday matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, prior to heading back to their home court to welcome the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
