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The Knicks’ first loss in six games could prove doubly costly.
LeBron James recorded a triple-double Saturday night in what potentially could be his final career game at Madison Square Garden, and the Knicks couldn’t overcome an injury to two-way forward OG Anunoby as their five-game winning streak came to an end with a 128-112 loss to the Lakers.
The defeat was exacerbated by Anunoby suffering a noncontact injury and limping to the locker room with what the Knicks later termed a sprained right foot after he dropped to one knee upon receiving a pass on the perimeter 1:22 into the third quarter.
The 40-year-old James registered his 122nd career triple-double with 33 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for the Lakers (28-19), who were without injured All-Star center Anthony Davis.
LeBron’s son, rookie Bronny James, even made his MSG debut and scored late in the game after the crowd was chanting his name.
“It speaks to who he is and his career,” Tom Thibodeau said about LeBron James before the game. “Twenty-[two] years to do it the way he’s done it, everywhere he’s been, if he’s on the team they’re a threat. So they always have a chance.
“Obviously Anthony Davis is a huge part of that, as well. But it’s just the way [James] can bring out the best, not only out of himself, but the people who are around him.”
Josh Hart had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 against the team that drafted him in 2017 to notch his seventh triple-double of the season.
But leading scorers Jalen Brunson (17 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (11) combined to shoot 10-for-30 from the floor for the Knicks (32-17). Precious Achiuwa contributed 15 points and 15 boards off the bench.
The Knicks’ remaining strength of schedule entering the game was the highest in the Eastern Conference, with an opponents’ combined winning percentage of .526 over the final 34 games, and tied for fourth-hardest overall in the league, according to Tankathon.
Thibodeau’s team posted a strong finish to complete January with a 9-6 record, and they already had taken care of the Kings, Grizzlies and Nuggets with a fifth straight formidable foe, the Rockets, slated to finish off the five-game homestand Monday night.
Still, James’ teams now have posted a 24-9 record in 33 career games at the Garden in the regular season in his 22-year NBA career. He also played in one playoff series against the Knicks in 2012 with the Heat.
After receiving a respectful ovation during pregame warmups, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer got to the rim right away and scored the first points of the game before adding two assists and a midrange bucket as the Lakers grabbed an early 17-10 lead.
The Knicks pulled even at 23-all on Precious Achiuwa’s three-point play, and the sides were tied 32-32 through 12 minutes.
James finished the period with 13 points and Rui Hachimura had 12 of his 21 points, while five different players netting at least five points for the Knicks, led by seven by Anunoby.
Towns’ 3-pointer gave the Knicks a short-lived two-point lead midway through the second, but former Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith responded with back-to-back treys to put the Lakers back on top en route to a 59-54 edge at intermission.
After Anunoby departed early in the third, the Lakers pushed their cushion to nine on three free throws by Austin Reaves (27 points).
Miles McBride converted a four-point play before James answered with a triple from the corner.
Hart recorded his 10th assist with a bounce pass to Achiuwa for a dunk and buried a 30-footer at the buzzer to pull the Knicks within 91-89 entering the final period.
But the Lakers opened the fourth on a 13-4 spurt, and Gabe Vincent’s second 3-pointer of the quarter gave them 109-97 advantage with 8:10 remaining.
Hart’s transition dunk off a steal cut the deficit to seven just past the midpoint, but James sank another 3-pointer to get the Lakers’ lead back to double digits.
