Three major Lakers stars on injury list ahead of clash against Knicks

Any New York vs. Los Angeles match-up in any sport is always special and just a over a month since their last meeting, the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers go head to head once again.

On that February 1 meeting, the Lakers ran out 128-112 winners at MSG and the team from the City of Angels were back in the news the following day with their acquisition of Slovenian star Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.

Since the 26-year-olds arrival in LA, the team have seen an upturn in fortune as they now sit in second place in the Western Conference (39-21) as JJ Redick’s team look to maintain a string run of form that has seen seven consecutive wins.

The most recent victory came Tuesday when Doncic delivered 30 points along with 15 assists in a 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Doncic became one of four Lakers players with 30 points and 15 assists in a single game, along with Jerry West, Magic Johnson and LeBron James.

“In order for us to be the team ultimately we need to be, the ball needs to be in Luka’s hands,” said LeBron James, who scored 34 points against New Orleans. “And then when Luka sits down, the ball can be in my hands or be (Austin Reaves') hands when he gets back.”

Even with Reaves (calf) missing the past two games and Rui Hachimura (knee) out for the past three, the Lakers have kept on winning.

Lakers injury list

Ahead of the Thursday night clash against New York, the Lakers have a series of injury concerns with Jordan Goodwin, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris and Hachimura all ruled out of the contest.

Big hitters, LeBron James, Doncic and Austin Reaves are listed as probable for the game as the Lakers look for another win to pull away from the Nuggets and Grizzlies who are snapping at their heels in the Western Conference standings.

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