Grading Lakers Players After LeBron James Triple-Double Sinks Knicks At MSG

LeBron James had another excellent performance at Madison Square Garden as the Lakers defeated the Knicks 128-112 on Saturday night.

Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James Masterpiece End New York Knicks' Winning Streak

LeBron James delivered yet another masterful performance at Madison Square Garden, recording his 10th triple-double of the season with 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-112 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday.

James, who has long thrived under the bright lights of MSG, improved to 23-8 in the iconic arena while surpassing 2,500 career 3-pointers—becoming just the seventh player in NBA history to reach the mark. His all-around brilliance powered a Lakers offense that shot 58% from the field and buried 19 threes, one shy of their season high.

Austin Reaves added 27 points, and Rui Hachimura contributed 21, with five different Lakers hitting at least three 3-pointers in a display of balanced scoring that complemented James’ dominance. The win snapped New York’s five-game winning streak and reinforced the Lakers’ ability to be dangerous when their outside shooting clicks.

Josh Hart put up an impressive triple-double of his own with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, but the Knicks struggled to keep pace. Jalen Brunson finished with 17 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns had a quiet night, shooting just 3-for-12 for 11 points. New York also suffered a setback when OG Anunoby exited in the third quarter with a sprained right foot.

With the Lakers in control late, the crowd’s chants for Bronny James grew louder, and he finally entered the game when his father checked out with 1:50 left. The rookie made the most of his brief appearance, scoring on a smooth left-handed layup to cap off a dominant night for Los Angeles. After a very positive night for the Lakers, let's grade each player.

LeBron James: A+

Stats: 33 PTS, 11 REB (0 OREB, 11 DREB), 12 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 3 PF, 14-26 FG, 3-8 3PT, 2-4 FT, +12, 37 MIN

LeBron once again put on a show at Madison Square Garden, notching his 10th triple-double of the season with 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. He controlled the game from start to finish, orchestrating the Lakers’ offense with precision while efficiently scoring at all three levels. His ability to dictate tempo, find open shooters, and hit timely shots made him the catalyst behind the Lakers' dominant win. Despite five turnovers, his overall impact was undeniable, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest performers under the bright lights of New York.

Austin Reaves: A

Stats: 27 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 6 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 3 PF, 7-12 FG, 4-7 3PT, 9-9 FT, +18, 29 MIN

Reaves provided a crucial scoring boost, pouring in 27 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting while going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. His ability to create his own shot and space the floor with four three-pointers helped open up the offense for James and the rest of the Lakers. Defensively, he was active with three steals, showing his two-way value. His confidence and aggressiveness were instrumental in keeping the Knicks at bay, and his +18 plus/minus reflected his strong all-around performance.

Rui Hachimura: B+

Stats: 21 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 8-12 FG, 3-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, +13, 38 MIN

Hachimura was a steady scoring presence, contributing 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting while knocking down three triples. His ability to stretch the floor and attack closeouts added versatility to the Lakers' offense. Defensively, he held his own, chipping in a steal and a block while staying engaged throughout. Although he didn't dominate the glass, his efficiency and composure played a key role in ensuring the Lakers maintained their lead throughout the night.

Max Christie: B

Stats: 15 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 6-10 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-3 FT, +21, 33 MIN

Christie put together a solid all-around performance, finishing with 15 points, three rebounds, and two assists while shooting 6-of-10 from the field. While his three-point shooting was inconsistent (1-for-4), his ability to attack the rim and play within the Lakers' offensive flow was a positive. He also contributed defensively with a block and played with good energy, helping maintain the team’s momentum in crucial stretches. His +21 plus/minus was the highest on the team, highlighting his impact.

Dorian Finney-Smith: B

Stats: 15 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 5-6 FG, 5-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +14, 32 MIN

Finney-Smith was incredibly efficient, scoring 15 points while knocking down five of his six three-point attempts. His ability to space the floor and capitalize on open looks made him a perfect complement to LeBron’s playmaking. Defensively, he provided solid perimeter coverage, recording two steals and helping limit New York’s outside shooting. Though he had two turnovers, his offensive efficiency and defensive presence made him a key contributor to the Lakers’ balanced attack.

Gabe Vincent: C+

Stats: 9 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 3-6 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 20 MIN

Vincent had a quiet but efficient night, scoring nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. He didn't contribute much in other areas, finishing with just one assist and one rebound, but his ability to knock down shots helped stretch the defense. However, his lack of playmaking and limited impact outside of shooting kept his grade from being higher.

Jarred Vanderbilt: C+

Stats: 0 PTS, 8 REB (3 OREB, 5 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 0-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 14 MIN

Vanderbilt failed to score in his 14 minutes but contributed with eight rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. His hustle and energy were noticeable, but his offensive limitations were evident, as he went 0-for-3 from the field. Despite that, his ability to impact the game through rebounding and defensive effort gave the Lakers some toughness in the frontcourt.

Jaxson Hayes: C

Stats: 4 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 22 MIN

Hayes had a minimal offensive impact with just four points, but he was active defensively, registering three steals and a block. He finished a perfect 2-for-2 from the field but wasn't a major factor in the Lakers’ offensive sets. His mobility and defensive instincts were helpful in spurts, but his overall influence on the game was limited.

Dalton Knecht: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -8, 10 MIN

Knecht had a short and ineffective stint, scoring just two points on 1-of-3 shooting in 10 minutes. He struggled to find his rhythm from deep, missing both of his three-point attempts and didn't contribute much outside of scoring. His -8 plus/minus in limited minutes reflected his struggles.

Bronny James: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 MIN

Bronny received a warm reception from the MSG crowd and made the most of his two minutes, scoring on a smooth left-handed layup. While his time on the floor was too short to make a meaningful impact, the moment was a special one for fans.

Trey Jemison III: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 MIN

Jemison played just two minutes and recorded two defensive rebounds but didn’t attempt a shot. His time on the floor was mostly in garbage time, giving him little opportunity to showcase his skills.

Christian Koloko: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 MIN

Koloko also saw only two minutes of action and did not record any stats. His presence was purely to close out the game after the Lakers had secured the win.

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Grading Lakers Players After LeBron James Triple-Double Sinks Knicks At MSG

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