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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Doncic, Lebron-less Lakers frustrate cold-shooting Knicks for second straight win

Doncic, Lebron-less Lakers frustrate cold-shooting Knicks for second straight win

Published Mar 9, 2026 12:48 pm

At A Glance

  • LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds, Austin Reaves added 25 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James' injury absence to grind out a 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday, March 8.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) takes a shot while being guarded by New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) takes a shot while being guarded by New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds, Austin Reaves added 25 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James' injury absence to grind out a 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday, March 8.
Rui Hachimura scored 13 points for the Lakers, who never trailed the surging Knicks in their fourth consecutive victory even while James missed his second straight game with a bruised left elbow and a left foot injury.
The Lakers slumped in the fourth quarter, managing just one basket in a 6 1/2-minute span down the stretch while New York cut its 23-point deficit to 10. But the Knicks couldn't hit enough shots to capitalize and committed eight turnovers in the fourth.
Luke Kennard made a 3-pointer with 1:37 left before Doncic iced it on his fifth 3-pointer with 1:05 left.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for just the second time in six games.
Jalen Brunson scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, but New York couldn't overcome 8-of-34 shooting on 3-point attempts in the second stop on its five-game trip, which began with an impressive win at Denver.
Mikal Bridges went scoreless in 27 minutes.
The Lakers took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter after a 20-8 run. Doncic, who hit an absurd fallaway 3-pointer during the surge, had 28 points after scoring 44 in three quarters while beating Indiana two nights earlier.
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, De'Aaron Fox had 20 points and 10 assists and the San Antonio Spurs won their fourth straight, rolling to a 145-120 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Stephon Castle added 23 points for San Antonio, which has won 15 of 16.
Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson had 23 points each for Houston, which allowed a season high in points.
The Spurs (47-17) won the season series against the Rockets 3-1 and strengthened their hold on the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Houston (39-24) dropped into fourth in the West, a half-game behind Minnesota (40-24) and seven games behind San Antonio in the loss column.
The Rockets, who have alternated wins and losses over their past six games, allowed a season-most 56 points in the paint.
San Antonio had 38 assists while shooting a season-high 58% from the field, 53% (21 of 40) from 3-point range.
It all started with the Spurs' 7-foot-4 All-Star.
Wembanyama was 9 for 13 from the field, including a reverse dunk through contact that resulted in a three-point play and an 83-61 lead three minutes into the third quarter.
Wembanyama opened the scoring with a 26-foot 3-pointer followed by an shot fake on a 3 before driving to the rim for a left-hand finger roll, both with Alperen Sengun closely defending.
San Antonio opened a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter but Houston rallied when Wembanyama took a seat.
Houston’s only leads came at 27-26 with two minutes left in the first quarter and 33-32 at the close of the period.
Keldon Johnson added 20 points for San Antonio, which is 2 1/2 games behind Oklahoma City in the West.
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