Lakers Know They Have Something To Prove Against The Knicks On Sunday

The Lakers 128-117 winwon, Luka Doncic dominated and past nan speech moved forward, because moreover though a 128-117 triumph complete nan slumping Indiana Pacers connected Friday counts each nan aforesaid successful nan tight Western Conference standings, it doesn’t opportunity arsenic overmuch astir nan Lakers arsenic what comes next.

Buoyed by 4 caller wins complete struggling teams, nan Lakers are still searching for a connection triumph to denote themselves arsenic morganatic contenders successful nan crowded Western Conference. The Lakers (38-25) are comfortably successful sixth spot successful nan West, but conscionable 3-11 against teams that are .600 aliases better.

Two of nan wins came successful nan first 2 weeks of nan season. The losses person been ugly: an mean separator of 19.9 points per defeat.

Now pinch 5 of their adjacent six games against teams that are .600 aliases amended — starting pinch Sunday’s 12:30 p.m. title against nan New York Knicks — nan Lakers get a chance to beryllium their imaginable to make a playoff run.

Lakers defender Austin Reaves drives to nan handbasket arsenic he’s chased by Indiana Pacers guards Quenton Jackson and Aaron Nesmith Friday astatine Crypto.com Arena.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“You play teams that are playing winning hoops and [have] winning records, it decidedly tin build immoderate assurance successful nan group,” guard Luke Kennard said Friday. “But I cognize moreover immoderate of nan adjacent games we’ve mislaid conscionable recently, I cognize we’ve done immoderate really bully things. … We cognize what we person successful nan locker room and successful this group.”

Even a time and a triumph later, nan Lakers were still ruing Thursday’s roadworthy nonaccomplishment successful Denver. With a chance to jump to 5th spot successful nan standings, they fto nan Nuggets (39-25) unfastened nan crippled connected an 11-point run. Denver opened up a 14-point lead successful nan 4th quarter.

But dissimilar galore of their different losses to playoff-contending teams, nan Lakers answered Denver’s run. They trim it to 1 pinch 2:05 near earlier nan Nuggets held connected for nan victory.

“That was a crippled that we’ve surgery passim nan year, successful games for illustration that,” coach JJ Redick said. “And they made a number of runs that went to double digits and we conscionable kept playing and had a chance. … I’m assured we’re going to find it. How we’re going to find it, that’s wherever it’s —”

Redick trim disconnected his ain thought arsenic he searched for nan words.

“You sewage to fig it retired connected a regular ground sometimes,” nan coach concluded pinch a tight smile.

Lakers halfway Jaxson Hayes scores astatine nan rim successful beforehand of Indiana Pacers defender Ben Sheppard Friday astatine Crypto.com Arena.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

The Lakers figured it retired Friday down a dazzling 44-point capacity from Doncic, who leads nan NBA pinch 10 40-point games this season. The NBA’s starring scorer didn’t moreover play during nan 4th fourth of nan blowout.

Doncic’s brilliance was much than capable against nan bottom-feeding Pacers, who, astatine 15-48, are playing much for lottery position than postseason hopes. But nan Knicks (41-23) person won 4 of their past 5 games, including convincing wins complete San Antonio and Denver. The only caller nonaccomplishment was a three-point conclusion to Oklahoma City.

Lakers guardant LeBron James is expected to beryllium disposable for Sunday’s marquee crippled aft injuring his elbow precocious successful nan nonaccomplishment to nan Nuggets and missing Friday’s game. Centers Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar backmost strain) are day-to-day.

Led by Jalen Brunson’s 26.2 points and 6.5 assists per game, nan Knicks person nan NBA’s third-best offense. Conversely, nan Lakers are 21st successful protect rating.

The Lakers emphasized nan value of squad defense each season, but Marcus Smart is “the only 1 that consistently is conscionable doing what he’s expected to do” connected defense, Redick said Friday. Sometimes nan erstwhile protect subordinate of nan twelvemonth is forced to overcompensate for his teammates’ mistakes.

Doncic’s protect lapses are magnified, particularly pinch nan team’s caller inconsistencies. But Doncic’s oft-criticized defense has provided immoderate agleam spots, Redick said.

When he switches onto nan ball, Doncic gives up nan lowest number of points per possession among nan Lakers’ perimeter players, Redick said. He led nan Lakers successful rebounding Friday pinch 9 boards, each defensive. Doncic had some of nan team’s blocks against nan Pacers.

“He’s shown that he tin incorporate nan basketball,” Redick said of Doncic’s defense. “He’s evidently 1 of nan champion helping protect rebounders successful nan NBA. He’s capable to make steals and deflections. And, pinch immoderate prodding, he’s taking charges arsenic well.”

Doncic has drawn 11 charges this season, nan astir for a azygous twelvemonth successful his NBA career.