Overview
- LeBron James was downgraded to out for Tuesday’s game against the Timberwolves, marking his third consecutive absence.
- The Lakers beat the Knicks 110-97 on Sunday without James, led by Luka Doncic’s 35 points and Austin Reaves’ 25.
- Los Angeles has won five of its past six games and is 9-2 this season when James sits and both Doncic and Reaves play.
- The Knicks, now 41-24, were undone by 19 turnovers and 24 personal fouls in Los Angeles after an otherwise strong five-game test against top teams.
- Newsday reports New York begins a 16-game finish with one of the NBA’s easier remaining schedules (.439 opponents’ win percentage), as media scrutiny intensified following the loss.