Last night’s game between the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers marked a year since Luka Dončić was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers. Knicks wing Josh Hart reflected on the first anniversary but revealed the peculiar thing that made him mad about the blockbuster deal.
How the Dončić Trade Made Josh Hart Mad
Speaking postgame, Hart said, “One thing I’m mad about that day was that it didn’t happen earlier because Max Christie gave us 15 and we lost.” It’s also a year to the day the Lakers beat the Knicks 128-112 at Madison Square Garden, just before the Dončić trade happened.
That night, LeBron James put on a vintage display, scoring 33 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 12 assists. For Hart, we can understand why he was mad. Hart was tremendous for the Knicks, recording a 26-point, 13-rebound, and 11-assist triple-double, but it wasn’t enough. It was the 13th triple-double of his career.
Christie finished his last game with the Lakers in style, scoring 15 points on six of 10 shooting from the field, grabbing three rebounds, and contributing two assists.
Following the game, Dončić was the headliner in the most shocking trade in NBA history. He moved to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Christie, and a first-round draft pick.
This season, Dončić has been sensational for the Lakers, leading the NBA in scoring (33.6 PPG), rebounds (7.8), and assists (8.8, second in the league).
However, last night, Hart and the Knicks got their revenge on the Lakers, taking down their West Coast rivals 112-100 at MSG. Six Knicks players scored double-digit points, including Hart, who finished with 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
The experienced wing was extremely efficient as well, making eight of 11 from the field, including three of four from beyond the arc. OG Anunoby led the Knicks offensively, scoring 25 points and grabbing eight rebounds to record New York’s sixth win in a row.
The Knicks are second in the Eastern Conference, winning 31 games and losing 18. The Boston Celtics are third with the same record. New York is still 5.5 games back from the Detroit Pistons, who’ve been exceptional this season, winning 36 and losing 12. As for Dončić, he continued his impressive scoring in the Garden, registering 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists.
The loss keeps the Lakers in the top six of the Western Conference, but Phoenix, in seventh place, has more wins. Dončić needs to keep his elite scoring if the Lakers are to finish in the top six and secure a playoff berth after 82 games.
