Despite a disheartening loss for the Knicks, Magic Johnson put the franchise on a pedestal. The Knicks faced a defeat to the Lakers with a score of 113-105 at Madison Square Garden. While Johnson expressed admiration for the Lakers’ victory, he elevated the Knicks to a new level with his praise.  Taking to his social media account, the 5x NBA champion wrote, “It was fun for me to be in the electric Madison Square Garden to watch the Lakers get a win over the playoff-bound Knicks 113-105!”

Acknowledging the team’s combined efforts, Johnson specifically praised LeBron James and Austin Reaves for their instrumental contributions. He said, “Austin Reaves’ 22-7-6 and LeBron James’ 24-5-5 were two strong all-around performances, but four other Lakers were also in double-digit scoring!”

Not only did Magic Johnson highlight the impressive showing of James and Reaves, he also highlighted how his former team performed against a playoff-bound contending team. Johnson’s praise for the Knicks made the Lakers’ victory look more impressive. It seems the players in Purple and Gold have started clicking at the right time.

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Lakers’ win was spearheaded by Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves & LeBron James

Austin Reaves has been instrumental in the Lakers’ recent games. In his previous game against the Boston Celtics, he notched a season-high 32 points. With the absence of two key players, James and Davis, Reaves propelled the Lakers to a 114-105 triumph. While James was sidelined due to an ankle injury, Davis missed the game due to his Achilles ailment.

The power duo joined forces again with Reaves to dominate the game at MSG. Anthony Davis, returning from injury, contributed significantly with a double-double, amassing 12 points and an impressive 18 rebounds. 

Tension certainly mounted as the New York Knicks held a precarious 86-80 lead in the third quarter. However, the Lakers managed the first seven points in the fourth quarter. Even though Jalen Brunson showcased a stellar performance scoring 36 points and 6 rebounds, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ strength.

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Next up for the Lakers is the Charlotte Hornets. The Los Angeles Lakers legend Johnson even expressed his hope for the team to win their next two games in honor of Kobe Bryant’s upcoming statue inauguration. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section below.