The Los Angeles Lakers vs. the New York Knicks

By Brogan Larose Last updated Apr 13, 2026

Another one in the books: the Knickerbockers maintain the number two spot in the Eastern Conference. PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Battle of the Ages Seen Live on Feb. 1, 2026 in Madison Square Garden

Hello everyone! It’s Brogan LaRose M’26 back to give you another NBA article. This article will be a unique addition to the column, as my family and I recently witnessed the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks live at none other than Madison Square Garden. This article will discuss the experience, the game, and some of my thoughts post-game. Let’s get into it!

With the game on the horizon at 7 p.m., my family and I left my uncle’s apartment complex at around five o’clock and took an Uber to get to MSG. Right off the bat, I ran into some Lakers fans outside the arena and got some pictures of the exterior. We then got to our seats, watched warm-ups for both teams and had dinner inside. Then, it was time for the game.

The game featured, of course, LeBron and the Luka-led Lakers versus the Knicks, who would have Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart rounding out the starting five. For the Lakers, they got off to a pretty good start as Luka was getting whatever he wanted offensively, whether it was from the inside, connecting on three-pointers or throwing alley-oops to his lob threat, DeAndre Ayton. Celebrities started filling in as the game progressed, including Druski, Fat Joe, Michael J. Fox, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and many more, having fun this Sunday Night in New York City. As the game neared halftime, OG Anunoby was making his presence felt on both ends of the court, knocking down three-pointers and playing sound defense. On the other hand, Landry Shamet was making his presence known off the bench as he is known for being a deadeye from three-point land. However, the Lakers were still playing with poise as Luka kept scoring, LeBron kept getting his and Rui Hachimura kept knocking down key shots towards halftime. At halftime, the Lakers led 56-52.

The second half started, and well, for my sake, this was just a let-down as a Lakers fan. Questions about the Lakers’ defense all year certainly came up in this game, as the second half saw their momentum swing towards the Knicks, who put their stamp on the game. While Jalen Brunson wasn’t having the most fabulous night scoring-wise, it was Anunoby, Josh Hart and Shamet who really

were the X-factors of this game. OG played a magnificent game, finishing with 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals, two of which came against Luka, who he made uncomfortable on the offensive end. Josh Hart also had some defensive possessions on Doncic and had a considerable impact offensively with 20 points, four rebounds and two assists on 8-of-11 shooting. For Shamet, this was not that pleasant, as the Lakers’ defense left him WIDE OPEN for three-pointers, and for that, Landry made them pay the price with 23 points on a laser-efficient six-of-ten from three. This is where, for the Lakers, the defensive side either makes or breaks them as a team, since with a lot of offensive firepower already with Luka, LeBron and the currently injured Austin Reaves, their defensive holes are apparent. Yes, they do have solid, defensive-minded players such as Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt, but ultimately, they will need more of that type of player if they want to compete for a championship.

Outscoring the Lakers 60-44 in the second half, it was the New York Knicks coming out on top with a win of 112-100. While I was slightly deflated that the Lakers lost this game, I was at least grateful to witness my favorite player of all time, Lebron James, play in Madison Square Garden. The arena is magnificent, and the fans’ atmosphere is electric, whether the Lakers or the Wizards are in town. The fanbase is certainly a ride-or-die group of individuals from across New York City and its boroughs. I must say the NBA is always in a better place when the Mecca is going crazy, whether in the regular season or in the playoffs. As of now, the New York Knicks are the second seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Los Angeles Lakers are the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Both teams are expected to make the playoffs if everything holds, and both are looking to win a championship this season: the Lakers for their first since 2020 and the Knicks for their first since 1973. Overall, this was a 10/10 experience for my family and me, and I highly recommend any sports fans (if able) get to Madison Square Garden at least once in their lives. Be sure to be on the lookout for more NBA articles.