The New York Knicks will play against the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA regular season game on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Fans interested in watching the Knicks Lakers NBA game can catch the action live on ABC at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time or stream it for free by signing up for a trial with DirecTV or FuboTV.
Matchup Preview and Team Records
The Knicks enter the game with a 41-23 record, ranking third in the Eastern Conference, while the Lakers hold a 38-25 mark, placing sixth in the Western Conference. The Lakers are hosting the Knicks at their home court, Crypto.com Arena, where they have a 19-12 record this season.
Los Angeles currently sits fifth in the Western Conference, averaging 51.6 points per game in the paint. LeBron James leads this effort with an average of 11.2 points in the area. Conversely, New York’s offense is strong on the road with an 18-14 record and they average 117.2 points per game, outscoring their opponents by 6.6 points on average.
Team Shooting and Past Encounter
The Lakers have been efficient, shooting 49.9% from the field, which is notably 4.2 percentage points higher than the 45.7% the Knicks allow to their opponents. Meanwhile, New York shoots 47.3%, slightly below the 48.4% shooting percentage opponents have averaged against Los Angeles. This game marks the second meeting between the two teams this season, after the Knicks won 112-100 on February 2, with OG Anunoby leading the scoring with 25 points.
Key Players’ Performance Statistics
Luka Doncic has been a standout for the Lakers, averaging 32.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Austin Reaves has contributed 17.4 points over his last ten games. For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 19.7 points per game alongside 11.9 rebounds, while OG Anunoby has maintained an average of 2.3 made three-pointers over the last ten games.
Recent Team Form and Injury Updates
Over their last 10 games, the Lakers hold a 6-4 record, averaging 116.5 points, 40 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 8.2 steals, and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have scored an average of 110.3 points during this span. The Knicks have a better recent form with a 7-3 record in their last ten matches, tallying 115 points, 45.1 rebounds, 30 assists, 9.5 steals, and 4.5 blocks per game, while limiting opponents to 101.7 points on average.
The Lakers will be without LeBron James (elbow), Maxi Kleber (back), and Deandre Ayton (knee) due to injuries. The Knicks will miss Miles McBride, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.
What This Game Means for Both Teams
This contest between the Knicks and Lakers holds importance as both teams continue to jockey for position in their respective conferences during the critical stretch of the regular season. The absence of LeBron James could provide an opening for New York to capitalize on Los Angeles’s vulnerability. With evenly matched shooting percentages and strong recent performances, this game is likely to be closely contested and could influence playoff seeding moving forward.
