Lakers Edge Knicks in Overtime Thriller, Doncic Makes History

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New York Knicks 113-109 in an overtime thriller on March 6, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena, marking their eighth consecutive victory.

Luka Dončić led the Lakers with a stellar performance, scoring 32 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and providing 12 assists. His efforts contributed to a notable milestone as he surpassed Hall of Famer Pete Maravich for 166th place on the all-time assists list.

Despite struggles in the early quarters, including trailing by as many as 13 points, the Lakers rallied late with key contributions from their defense and role players. J.J. Redick noted, “Our guys, in what felt like a playoff game at times, really just gutted out a win.”

The matchup against the Knicks was anticipated as a significant test for Los Angeles, given the recent addition of Dončić from a high-profile trade earlier this season. The Lakers have surged since his arrival, boasting a record of 11-2 with him in the lineup and holding the second seed in the Western Conference.

Although the Knicks put up a strong fight behind Jalen Brunson‘s 39 points and Karl-Anthony Towns‘ contributions, they couldn’t withstand the late-game pressure. Dončić’s performance was complemented by LeBron James, who added 31 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.

Defensive prowess was key in the final stretch, as the Lakers limited the Knicks to just 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting in the fourth quarter and forced a critical turnover in regulation that sent the game to overtime. James pointed out, “We didn’t shoot the ball well for quite a while. But we laid our hat on our defense.”

Gabe Vincent emerged as a surprising hero in the fourth quarter, nailing three three-pointers that helped the Lakers tie the game before overtime. Vincent finished with 12 points, having converted all four of his three-point attempts in the second half.

Rookie Dalton Knecht also played a pivotal role, scoring 11 points, including a buzzer-beating three at the end of the third quarter, which shifted momentum back to the Lakers. “I think Gabe won the game with those three threes in the fourth quarter,” Dončić remarked.

The win improves the Lakers to a 40-21 record, as they prepare for an upcoming challenging four-game road trip against teams like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. The team’s resilience has been crucial in their recent successes, which head coach Redick acknowledges as the starting point for a deeper playoff run.

Looking ahead, the Lakers will aim to maintain their momentum in what will be a grueling stretch of games as they aim to solidify their position in the playoff race.