N.Y. Knicks: Julius Randle Sends Ripples Through the Lakers

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

MONDAY

Lakers   96

Knicks  111

FINAL

Third Straight Victory Keeps Knicks in Top Eight

The Knicks do what the Brooklyn Nets could not just a few days ago: defeat the depleted Los Angeles Lakers.  They limited the Lakers, who were coming off a 25-point victory over Brooklyn, to 96 points; it's the 19th time this season the Knicks have held the opposition below one hundred points.  

They held Los Angeles to 80 possession, posted a plus-14 in rebounds, a plus-nine in steals, and instigated 25 turnovers while putting up a plus-eight at the stripe and outscoring the Lakers 54-38 in the paint.

Julius Randle scored at least 30 points for the third time since the All-Star break and the first time this month.  He led the floor with 34 points and tied with a game-high with ten rebounds in 39 minutes.  Elfrid Payton was second to Randle with twelve attempts and 20 points in 27 minutes.  Derrick Rose added 14 points in 20 minutes off the bench.

Their three-game homestand is a rousing success.  The Knicks win three in a row (Memphis, Toronto, Los Angeles) to get a game back over .500 and improve to 17-10 at home.