Knicks ease past Lakers to win third straight at the Garden

The New York Knicks made it three wins in a row with a comfortable victory against the Lakers on Monday night.

The Lakers failed to do the New York double after hammering the Nets in Brooklyn on Saturday night.

A tight game was brought to life by Julius Randle who began the game 3/3 from the field as the Knicks opened up a seven point lead. However, Dennis Schrodder came alive late in the first as he dropped a quick eight points to give the Lakers a two point lead after one.

RJ Barrett has been crucial to the Knicks in their two previous wins but the Lakers were making things very difficult for the second year man and he didn't manage a single first half point.

Despite Barrett's struggles the Knicks remained gritty and pulled the game back in the favour thanks to 19 first half points from Randle. HT: Lakers 52-55 Knicks.

The Knicks have relied on their defensive all season and it was crucial for them in the third quarter as they held the Lakers to just 16 points.

After beginning the game 0/8, Barrett managed five points in the third to go along with another seven points from former Laker, Julius Randle, as the Knicks opened up a 13 point lead heading into the final quarter.

As is so often the case for New York, they began the fourth quarter cold as ice allowing the Lakers to eat into the lead and close to within five points of the Knicks.

Thankfully the slow start to the final period didn't cost the Knicks the win as the team rallied behind eight points from Randle in the final five minutes of the game to eventually win by 15 points. Julius Randle was the star for New York as he finished with 34 pts 10 rebs & 4 assists, while shooting 56.5% from the field.

The Knicks were able to overcome another dismal performance from three, shooting just 18.5% as a team, by out-rebounding the Lakers and forcing 25 turnovers. Final Score in Madison Square Garden: Lakers 96-111 Knicks.

The Knicks move back above .500 with this win and remain in the hunt to avoid the play-in tournament in the East. The Lakers remain in fifth place in the West but are still without Lebron James & Anthony Davis.