LeBron James wrote a new page of his legend by offering himself an XXL triple-double for his annual arrival at Madison Square Garden, whom he likes to call “The best Arena in the world” And that he has gratified a new exceptional match. With a defense that held up and an external address on which they surfed the whole match (19/40), the men of JJ Redick thus managed to spoil the party by leaving New York with a success that allows them to stay In contact with the Top 4 to the west.
In a Garden ready to ignite at the slightest opportunity, it was the Lakers who hit first, between the two 3-point baskets and the Dunk of Rui Hachimura (8-15) and the end of the first quarter-time LeBron James' dreams. The “King” scored the last 7 points of his team with a 2+1 then by making Landry Shamet dance twice to better trigger his “Fadeaway Jumpshot” before the arrival of two (27-32).
The Knicks could not take control of the rhythm, contenting themselves with a few good shots to stay in contact, like the two 3-point baskets from Deuce McBride or those of Og Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, barely masking The delicate first half of Tom Thibodeau's men, like his Tandem Brunson-Towns. In a flash, Dorian Finney-Smith twice then Austin Reaves investigated the 3-points to allow the Californians to return to the cloakroom at +5 (54-59).
Two dunks in the last act for the quadra
Always looking for good carburetors, the Knicks believed to go back on the right foot following the 3-point of Og Anunoby, the two blows blow on a blow of Precious Achiuwa then at the Alley-Oop between Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges (66- 66). Problem, LeBron James continues to resist opposite!
The “King” offered an mid-distance step-back, a 2 +1 and a 3-point to replace the Lakers to +6 (68-74). The enormous against of Rui Hachimura on Kat still maintained the MSG in silence, until three sequences come to give hearts to the heart to the fans of “Big Apple”, with the 3+1 of Deuce McBride, the Dunk of Precious Achiuwa and the last 30 seconds of madness of Josh Hart to complete the third quarter, on a lay-up then a 3-point in the buzzer of the period. What answer the 3-point in Air conditioner mode of LeBron James and Gabe Vincent, and above all what to revive the match (89-91)!
But the Knicks quickly disillusioned against the new “Purple & Gold” tidy which fell on them in the last act. After the 2+1 of Max Christie then the two new 3-point baskets from Gabe Vincent, it was LeBron James who still surprised everyone with two huge dunks.
The “King” then responded to Joh Hart's dunk with a 3-point that replaced the Lakers at +10 (104-114). This time, New York was forced to return weapons, while Dorian Finney-Smith, Max Christie and Rui Hachimura were responsible for finishing the job to offer a precious and prestigious Lakers victory, 128-112.
What to remember
– A LeBron James in gold. What if it was King's last match at Madison Square Garden? If this was the case, LeBron James will have in any case closed his love story with the Mecca of Basketball in style with a new performance that will remain in its legend. At 40, the Lakers superstar, which had released its lebron 22 “Gold” from the final of the Olympic Games for the occasion, split a triple-double at 33 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists and is Return with what he had come to seek, namely victory in the room where he prefers plays in the NBA. In legs from the first quarter, he confirmed in the third quarter with important baskets before illuminating the last act of two dunks, and his third 3-point in the evening.
– Josh Hart too lonely. Opposite, the Knicks will be able to regret the bankruptcy of the Bruns-Towns axis which suffered all evening in attack, with 7/18 in shooting and 6 balloons lost for the first and a small 3/12 for the second. Frustrating, especially since Josh Hart had released a mammoth match, closing his triple-double even before the end of the third quarter to finish at 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. The man to do all Knicks was omnipresent, and at the same time … he could not be everywhere!
– Og Anunoby affected. It is on a visibly harmless gesture, before taking an impulse on a 3-point shot, on the return from the locker room, that the Knicks winger suddenly stopped. Visibly touched on an ankle, he prostrated on the ground before getting up and joining the locker room. A big blow that it was necessary to digest for the New Yorkers, even if the Lakers were evolving for their part without Anthony Davis.
How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
