Knicks Fall Short To Lakers Despite Solid Shooting Game
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jordan Clarkson had 29 points and 10 assists, Julius Randle added 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 127-107 on Sunday for their sixth win in eight games.
Kyle Kuzma added 15 points for the Lakers (17-29), who continued their midseason surge of solid play. Rookie point guard Alex Caruso set career highs with nine points and eight assists, making the most of extensive playing time in the absence of injured Lonzo Ball.
Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Michael Beasley scored 17 points apiece for the Knicks, who have lost 12 of 16. New York slipped to 2-2 on its seven-game trip.
Despite a solid shooting game, the Knicks couldn't keep up down the stretch with the Lakers, whose up-tempo offense flowed throughout their highest-scoring game in two weeks.
Ball missed his fourth consecutive game with a sore left knee, and Lakers coach Luke Walton said the rookie point guard might miss several more games.
But Clarkson followed up his 33-point performance Friday against Indiana with another high-energy effort. The veteran guard hit 12 of his 19 shots and added six rebounds.
Los Angeles took the lead late in the third quarter and pulled away down the stretch, scoring 10 consecutive points in a rally led by Clarkson and Randle. The Lakers finished the game on a 17-4 run.
Porzingis played only 10 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, but the Knicks kept it close by hitting 59 percent of their shots. Clarkson had another strong half in his recent run of excellent play, scoring 14 points.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Porzingis drew a technical foul with 8:04 to play for vociferously protesting a foul call against teammate Ron Baker. The ensuing three-point play put the Lakers up by 11. ... Courtney Lee added 16 points.
Lakers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also missed his second straight game with a right heel injury. ... Kuzma jammed his right middle finger during the second quarter, but iced it and continued playing. ... Brandon Ingram played through a mild left ankle sprain after the team determined he was healthy at game time. He managed 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
UP NEXT
Knicks: At the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.
Lakers: Host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
(Copyright 2018 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
