The New York Knicks spoiled what may have been LeBron James’ last visit to Madison Square Garden. While the “King” continues to weigh his future, the Los Angeles Lakers fell 112-100 in the legendary New York venue.
The Lakers entered halftime with a 56-52 lead, fueled by Luka Doncic’s 18-point first half. But the Knicks responded with a decisive 13-5 run in the third quarter to seize control.
Lakers’ top performers:
- Luka Doncic – 30 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists
- LeBron James – 22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists
- DeAndre Ayton – 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
- Rui Hachimura – 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Knicks’ top performers:
- OG Anunoby – 25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
- Landry Shamet – 23 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
- Josh Hart – 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
- Jalen Brunson – 12 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists
With the win, the Knicks denied James a triumphant farewell at MSG, if indeed this was his final appearance there as a player.
Will LeBron Play at MSG Again?
After 23 seasons, retirement looms closer for James. Although he has not made an official announcement, many insiders believe this could be his final year in the NBA.
As the Lakers continue their stretch against Eastern Conference opponents, each stop could mark James’ last game in that arena.
If this was his MSG farewell, James leaves behind an impressive regular-season record of 23-9, with averages of 28.2 points, 7.6 assists, and 7 rebounds, according to AP statistics.
Despite the loss, James delivered a strong performance in a primetime NBC broadcast, ensuring his potential farewell was memorable.
LeBron vs. the New York Knicks
James may have played his last game at Madison Square Garden, but he still has one more matchup against the Knicks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on March 8.
His career record against New York stands at 44-18 in the regular season and 4-1 in the postseason.
While only James knows what the future holds, fans are already bracing for the possible departure of one of the greatest players in NBA history.
