Player Grades of match Lakers vs Knicks: Assessing every Lakers player’s performance from the team’s 113-105 win over the Knicks.

The Los Angeles Lakers are almost done with their six-game road trip. On Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, they play the New York Knicks.

After an unlikely win against their old rivals the Boston Celtics, L.A. is coming off a game without Anthony Davis and LeBron James. This is the most important thing for the Lakers to do now that 50 games have been played.

The purple and gold can win any night, but they haven’t been able to string together a long stretch of good basketball yet. As a Knicks team that has won nine straight games, beating two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference is the best chance to turn things around.

It was said that Davis and James would be iffy for Saturday’s game, but they are both going to play in Madison Square Garden. But Jarred Vanderbilt will be out for a long time because he hurt his right foot in the Boston game. Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent are also still out because they are hurt.

For New York, they are missing Julius Randle, who used to play for the Laker’s but hurt his shoulder a week ago against the Miami Heat. He’ll be out for two to three weeks with that ιnjury, which is terrible news because the Knicks are on a roll right now. Additionally, O.G. Anunoby, who was just acquired, is hurt in the arm and will miss his fourth straight game.

But there has been no loss. The Knicks have kept winning, in part because of guard Jalen Brunson, who is now an All-Star and is averaging 32.6 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 52.5% from the field and 39% from three-point range during this stretch. Even though some of their most important backup players are hurt, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Donte DiVincenzo have all stepped up.

Since Vanderbilt is no longer on the team, the defense against Brunson will have to be a group. Max Christie is now the only point-of-аttаck defender. The second-year guard might have to guard Brunson sometimes, but it will be hard to keep the hоt hand in check.

To throw off the All-Star, head coach Darvin Ham needs to have a lot of different defense plans. But L.A. can’t pick up the role players they need to get going, especially at home. The Lakers have the chance to end their road trip on a strong note with two big wins against the Celtics and maybe even the Knicks.

The Los Angeles Lakers are tied 25–25 with the New York Knicks.

5:30 p.m. PT, February 3, 2024, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Radio: 710 AM TV: ABC NBC LA

Expected starting lineup for the Lakers:

Mark Gold: D’Angelo Russell

Austin Reaves (SG)

SF: Hachimura Rui

LeBron James (PF)

This is Anthony Davis

Important back-ups: Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Taurean Prince, and Max Christie

Thoughts on the Knicks’ starting lineup:

This is Jalen Brunson.

SG: The Duke of DiVincenzo

SF: Hart Josh

PF: Lovely Achiuwa

C: James Hartenstein

Miles McBride and Jericho Sims are important reserves.