The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their second defeat in a row against the New York Knicks. The “Banner Night” went to waste, also because Isaiah Hartenstein set a new career high for the Knicks. The Knicks won 114:109.

Los Angeles Lakers (15-12) – New York Knicks (15-11) 109:114 (BOXSCORE)

Before the game, the Lakers had unveiled their banner for success in the In-Season Tournament, but since the success in Las Vegas, the Californians have now lost three of four games. The Lakers once again only shot 43 percent from the field and once again had major problems under the boards against the physical Knicks.

Although LeBron James recorded a triple-double with 25 points (10/23), 10 rebounds and 11 assists, he was unable to turn the ball over in the final period. Instead, it was the Knicks who made the big plays. Julius Randle (27, 12/22) sank a difficult three-pointer three minutes before the end, and 30 seconds before the end the forward made everything clear with a transition layup after a missed throw by James (110:103).

Before that, it was Jalen Brunson (29, 10/21) who kept coming to his spots and punishing the Lakers. And then there was Isaiah Hartenstein, who only came off the bench but still played 39 minutes. The German had 9 points and 17 rebounds, the latter a new career high (previously 2x 16) for the center, who kept Anthony Davis busy under the basket.

Hartenstein also did a very good job defensively; at +15, the German had the best plus-minus of all Knicks players after Randle (+17). Davis had 32 points and 14 rebounds, otherwise only Austin Reaves (20, 7 assists) scored in double figures for the Lakers. Taurean Prince (9, 3/13 3P) and Cam Reddish (4, 2/9), on the other hand, scored a lot of tickets.

The Lakers remain eighth in the West, 1.5 games behind sixth place. New York, on the other hand, remains fifth in the East, just ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.