Lakers vs Knicks
Lakers vs Knicks: A clash of NBA royalty.
The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks have a historic NBA rivalry. The Lakers won their 17th NBA championship in the 2019–20 season, defeating the Miami Heat in six games.
Quick Facts
- Playoff series wins (lakers)
- 7 series victories against New York
- Head-to-head finals clashes
- 1962, 1970, 1972, 1984, 1985, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
- Most iconic game
- Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals (Wilt vs. Willis)
- Combined championships
- 34 titles (Lakers: 17, Knicks: 2)
- Key legends involved
- Kareem
- Magic
- Shaq
- Kobe vs. Reed
- Walton
- Ewing
Lore & Background
The 2019–20 Lakers dedicated their season to retired superstar Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. The team clinched a playoff berth on March 6, 2020, and later secured the top seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 2009–10. They finished the shortened season 52–19 and became the first team in NBA history to go undefeated when leading entering the fourth quarter (57–0 in regular season and playoffs).
Reader's Guide
The Lakers' 2019–20 season was their 72nd overall, 71st in the NBA, and 60th in Los Angeles. They played home games at Staples Center as members of the Western Conference's Pacific Division. Frank Vogel was head coach in his first year. The team acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in a trade involving Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks.
Did You Know?
- The Lakers clinched their first playoff berth since 2012–13 on March 6, 2020.
- The season was suspended on March 11, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Lakers finished with a 52–19 record, equivalent to about 60 wins in a full season.
- They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets to reach the NBA Finals.
- LeBron James' former team, the Miami Heat, was defeated in the Finals.
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