Luka Doncic scores 35, Lakers hold off cold-shooting Knicks 110-97 in LeBron's absence

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds, Austin Reaves added 25 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James' injury absence to grind out a 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Rui Hachimura scored 13 points for the Lakers, who never trailed the surging Knicks in their fourth consecutive victory even while James missed his second straight game with a bruised left elbow and a left foot injury.

The Lakers slumped in the fourth quarter, managing just one basket in a 6 1/2-minute span down the stretch while New York cut its 23-point deficit to 10. But the Knicks couldn't hit enough shots to capitalize and committed eight turnovers in the fourth.

Luke Kennard made a 3-pointer with 1:37 left before Doncic iced it on his fifth 3-pointer with 1:05 left.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for just the second time in six games.

Jalen Brunson scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, but New York couldn't overcome 8-of-34 shooting on 3-point attempts in the second stop on its five-game trip, which began with an impressive win at Denver. Mikal Bridges went scoreless in 27 minutes.

The Lakers took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter after a 20-8 run. Doncic, who hit an absurd fallaway 3-pointer during the surge, had 28 points after scoring 44 in three quarters while beating Indiana two nights earlier.

Knicks: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Lakers: Host Minnesota on Tuesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) stops the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, right, drives to the basket with the ball while being guarded by New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridgesduring the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, bottom, and New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby, right, fight for possession of the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) passes the ball to a teammate while being guarded by by New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees postponed Saturday's game against Tampa Bay because of a forecast for sustained rain and will make it up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sept. 22.

Tickets for the postponed game can be used for the 1:05 p.m. game on Sept. 22, which becomes the opener of a four-game series. That day's regularly scheduled game starts at 7:05 p.m.

Both teams pushed back their scheduled starters by a day for Sunday's finale of this weekend's truncated, two-game series. Ryan Weathers (2-2) starts for the Yankees and Drew Rasmussen (4-1) for the Rays.

New York has lost three straight games and 10 of 14.

Tampa Bay has won five straight and 16 of 19. The Rays, a big league-best 34-15, are 4-0 against the Yankees and lead New York by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees Aaron Judge (99), exits the field after been out in first base during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Thursday, May 21, 2026. in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)