Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks Picks and Predictions March 6th 2025

Knicks Tip Off West Coast Road Trip with Lakers Matchup

When the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers last met on Feb. 1, it was a night that altered the NBA landscape. The Lakers won 128-112 in New York, but the real shockwave came with reports that Los Angeles had acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.

Lakers Rolling with Doncic

Since Doncic made his Lakers debut on Feb. 10, Los Angeles has gone 8-2, continuing its dominant stretch that started even before the blockbuster trade. Going back to Jan. 21, the Lakers have posted an impressive 17-3 record.

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Their latest victory came on Tuesday, a 136-115 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans, where Doncic put up 30 points and 15 assists. He joined elite company, becoming one of just four Lakers to record at least 30 points and 15 assists in a game, alongside Jerry West, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James.

“In order for us to be the team ultimately we need to be, the ball needs to be in Luka’s hands,” James said. “And then when Luka sits down, the ball can be in my hands or (Austin Reaves’) hands when he gets back.”

Even with Reaves (calf) missing the last two games and Rui Hachimura (knee) out for three straight, the Lakers have kept winning with Doncic seamlessly integrating into the system.

Knicks Look to Regroup on the Road

New York enters Thursday’s game following a 114-102 home loss to the Golden State Warriors. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 29 points, while Jalen Brunson added 25. Karl-Anthony Towns missed the game for personal reasons but has been removed from the injury report and is expected to play against the Lakers.

The game marks the start of a crucial West Coast road trip, with four of the next five games in California, including a rematch against Golden State on March 15.

“Just focus on the Lakers and after that, focus on the next one,” Brunson said. “Just keep doing one game at a time the way we have been doing.”

That mindset has paid off for the Knicks, who are 16-8 since Jan. 8 while avoiding losing streaks longer than two games during that stretch.

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Revisiting the First Matchup

In the previous meeting, Josh Hart torched his former team with 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting, adding 11 assists. However, the Lakers pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Knicks 69-58. Reaves had 17 of his 27 points after halftime, while James finished with 33.

With both teams in playoff contention, the rematch presents another intriguing battle, especially with Doncic now leading the charge in Los Angeles.

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