Tuesday night’s showdown between the Knicks and Lakers was a bit one-sided.
The New York Knicks, who had been surging towards the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a recent string of eight straight wins, have (seemingly) fallen flat on their faces.
If their recent fourth-quarter collapse against the hapless (and Kyrie Irving-less) Cleveland Cavaliers wasn’t bad enough, they travelled to Los Angeles for a shellacking at the hands of the short-handed Lakers.
FINAL: Lakers 127, Knicks 96. The Lakers shoot 57.8% overall & 64.3% on 3’s (18/28). #GoLakers pic.twitter.com/wrIkKjBBhv
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 26, 2014
The Lakers, who were without guards Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash—both of whom have been shut down for the year, also played without star forward Pau Gasol, who sat out with vertigo.
Forward Xavier Henry played 23 minutes, leading the Lakers in scoring with 22, even though he has a torn ligament in his left wrist—similar to the injury Antawn Jamison played through last season. Four other Lakers—Chris Kaman, Jodie Meeks, Kent Bazemore and Nick Young—scored in double figures.
In what might possibly be the most alarming number from the stat sheet, even more so than the Lakers’ blazing 64-percent shooting from beyond-the-arc, the LA bench combined for 82 of their 127 points.
If you take away Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 17 points, the rest of New York’s second unit combined for a dismal four points on just under 17-percent shooting. Even with the rookie guard’s numbers, they just didn’t do enough, making only seven of 19 shot attempts.
In contrast, the Lakers’ second unit shot 64.5-percent on 48 combined attempts.
The loss serves as a severe setback for the Knicks, who at present are mathematically three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With only 11 games remaining on the schedule, seven of which are on the road, it will be quite the uphill battle for New York to climb.
“We just can’t keep letting games slip away” #Knicks head coach Mike Woodson
— NBA New York Knicks (@nyknicks) March 26, 2014
“At this point, we have to get every game on the west coast trip” — @tysonchandler #Knicks— NBA New York Knicks (@nyknicks) March 26, 2014
“We have to. We have no choice.” @Amareisreal on turning it around quickly in the midst of a playoff push
— NBA New York Knicks (@nyknicks) March 26, 2014
Team leader and Tuesday night’s leading scorer Carmelo Anthony seemed to have the most positive outlook.
“Tomorrow is a new day in Sacramento” — @carmeloanthony #Knicks
— NBA New York Knicks (@nyknicks) March 26, 2014
Los Angeles players were understandably pleased with the outcome.
Just blessed.. #ThankYouGod #StayTheCourse
— Xavier Henry (@XavierHenry) March 26, 2014
Good win.. #TheTigerWithin
— Kent Bazemore (@KentBazemore20) March 26, 2014
great TEAM win, 2 in a row. #PlayoffPush ha #LA
— Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) March 26, 2014
Former Lakers’ great, James Worthy was rather ecstatic over LA’s third quarter output.
51 points for #Lakers in 3rd Q, a franchise record. #saywhatttt — James Worthy (@James_Worthy42) March 26, 2014
Phil Jackson was joined in his Staples Arena luxury suite by Metta World Peace.