Doncic and Reaves Carry Lakers Past Knicks Without LeBron

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves combined for 60 points to carry the Lakers past the Knicks on Sunday while LeBron James sat out with an injury. Doncic poured in 32 points, hitting four threes and grabbing eight rebounds with four assists, 28 of those points coming in the first three quarters. Reaves added 25 with five assists and four rebounds. Jalen Brunson scored 24 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 in defeat. The win was Los Angeles' 39th and keeps them a game behind Houston and Minnesota for the West’s No. 3 seed. Merlin sees a team finding answers without its king. The backcourt punch provides hope, but the true test arrives in a brutal stretch against Minnesota, Denver and two meetings with Houston. If Doncic keeps creating and Reaves remains a spark, the Lakers can seize momentum, yet health and depth will shape the final outcome.