Knicks explode in third quarter to beat Lakers 112-100 behind OG Anunoby’s 25 and Jalen Brunson’s 13 assists [VIDEO]

New York flips the game after halftime and hands L.A. a nationally televised loss

The Knicks and Lakers stepped into Madison Square Garden carrying storylines that were already loud: New York chasing its sixth straight win after climbing out of its January slump, and Los Angeles arriving shorthanded but still leaning on the star power of Luka Dončić and LeBron James. The first two quarters reflected that tension — competitive, physical, and tight enough that neither side ever felt comfortable.

Los Angeles opened with cleaner execution, feeding Deandre Ayton inside and letting Dončić steer the offense with pace. The Lakers controlled the paint early, winning the interior battle and walking into a 33–27 lead after one. New York didn’t play poorly — they simply couldn’t string together stops to swing momentum.

By the second quarter, the Knicks began to settle into their spacing and movement. Jalen Brunson picked apart Los Angeles in transition, and Josh Hart forced mismatches to keep the scoring steady. Still, the Lakers carried the edge into halftime, up 56–52 behind Dončić’s 18 points and veteran control. New York wasn’t outmatched — just outpaced in moments, and waiting for the opening to flip the rhythm of the game.

The Knicks’ Third-Quarter Shift: Defense, Threes, and MSG Volume

Where the Lakers dictated the first half, the Knicks owned the third quarter.

New York’s defense tightened immediately out of the break, crowding driving lanes and forcing the Lakers into tougher possessions. The Garden responded to every stop, and that energy carried into New York’s transition game — where their momentum truly flipped.

Landry Shamet’s threes changed the pace. OG Anunoby’s activity on both ends elevated the floor. Brunson found shooters and cutters with precision. A 13–5 run closed the quarter and pushed New York ahead 90–82. It wasn’t just scoring — it was the Knicks outworking Los Angeles in the margins, the effort areas that swing matchups between elite teams.

The Lakers, missing Austin Reaves and relying heavily on star isolation, couldn’t match the surge. Dončić and LeBron kept them afloat, but the supporting cast never generated sustained production once New York began dictating tempo.

Knicks Flip the Game with a Third-Quarter Surge

If the first half was a tug-of-war, the third quarter was a takeover. New York erupted for 38 points, attacking with precision while clamping down defensively. The turning point wasn’t a single play — it was a stretch where the Knicks layered stops, transition pushes, and timely threes into a wave Los Angeles couldn’t disrupt.

Landry Shamet ignited the run with a confident perimeter rhythm, knocking down threes that forced the Lakers’ defense to stretch thin. OG Anunoby followed with his own shot-making, using spacing and physicality to attack gaps. Jalen Brunson shifted seamlessly into facilitator mode, pushing pace, locating shooters, and dictating where the ball needed to go. Every possession felt connected, and every decision elevated the next.

By the end of the quarter, the Knicks had flipped a four-point deficit into an eight-point lead. The 13–5 closing run stamped authority on the game and shifted the entire tone inside the Garden. The Lakers, suddenly outpaced and out-executed, couldn’t match New York’s surge once momentum shifted.

New York’s Depth and Control Carry the Fourth

Once the Knicks seized control, they refused to give it back. The fourth quarter wasn’t explosive, but it was disciplined — the type of execution that signals a team learning how to finish games consistently. New York outscored LA 22–18, maintaining a controlled tempo that kept the Lakers unable to generate meaningful runs.

Shamet delivered the dagger moments, sinking back-to-back threes that pushed the game beyond reach. His timing, not just his scoring, made the difference. Whenever Los Angeles looked poised to threaten, New York answered with composure. It wasn’t flashy; it was decisive.

The Lakers faced limited options with Austin Reaves sidelined and their bench lacking reliable shot creation. Dončić and James carried heavy loads, but New York’s multidimensional defensive looks — stunts, switches, and pressure rotations — muted their rhythm late. Even quality shots felt harder earned as the clock winding down favored New York’s control.

Anunoby, Shamet, and Brunson Lead a Balanced Team Effort

No single Knick dominated the game. Instead, six players reached double figures, a testament to the team’s balance and chemistry. OG Anunoby’s 25 points defined his rhythm as both scorer and defender, and his steals and rebounds helped stabilize the third-quarter push. He was the game’s anchor on both ends, finding the perfect blend of aggressiveness and efficiency.

Shamet’s 23 off the bench reshaped the game’s identity. His range stretched the floor, his confidence elevated momentum, and his timing closed the door on LA’s comeback hopes. This was the kind of performance that shifts trust within rotations — a reminder of why shooting gravity matters in these matchups.

Brunson, meanwhile, controlled the offense with a season-high 13 assists. He didn’t need to score heavily because the game asked him to orchestrate. Karl-Anthony Towns added toughness on the glass with 13 rebounds, and Josh Hart chipped in 20 points through pure determination. The Knicks looked like a team with multiple answers — something that matters deep into a season.

Lakers Lean on Stars but Struggle to Sustain Pace

The Lakers’ best moments came early, when their offense flowed naturally through movement and spacing. Dončić’s 30-point, 15-rebound, 8-assist performance was a reminder of how easily he can control tempo. LeBron’s 22 points on efficient shooting offered stability. But the problem wasn’t their stars — it was everything around them that couldn’t keep pace once New York elevated its play.

Without Reaves, LA lacked perimeter versatility and secondary creation. The bench provided only 23 points, and the team’s 10 turnovers gave New York opportunities to run. Once the Knicks pushed the pace and hit threes in succession, the Lakers’ rotations grew late, the defense flattened, and the offensive response never regained the sharpness of the first half.

Even highlight moments — Dončić’s step-back three over Josh Hart, LeBron’s alley-oop in traffic — couldn’t slow the shift. New York’s adjustments simply held stronger as the game progressed.

MSG Energy Peaks as Knicks Extend Their Streak

As the final buzzer sounded, the Garden had the feel of a team awakening at the right moment in the season. Fans roared, players embraced, and the six-game win streak felt bigger than the number. It felt like a statement that the Knicks, after weeks of recalibration, had regained their edge.

Social media echoed the vibe. Posts celebrated the defensive intensity, the shot-making, and the rise up the standings. Beating the Lakers on national TV isn’t just a win — it’s a message. And for New York, that message is clear: this is a team discovering rhythm, trusting depth, and playing with purpose.

The Knicks didn’t just survive the spotlight — they commanded it. And with every win building more belief, the rest of the conference is paying attention.

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