The Los Angeles Lakers took on the New York Knicks on Sunday. Heading into the game, the Lakers were without LeBron James, who had suffered an injury on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.
While this was a major concern for many LA fans, the Lakers have surprisingly done well against the Knicks, beating them 110-97. After Sunday’s win, a shocking record has come to light and gone viral on social media.
Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves’ Impressive Record Without LeBron James
The duo of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves put on an impressive showing on Sunday as the Lakers took on the Knicks. In the absence of James, Dončić and Reaves stepped up to the occasion and threw their best shot at New York.
Dončić destroyed the Knicks, adding 35 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, Reaves also had an all-around performance, putting up 25 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals, and one block.
After beating the Knicks on Sunday, this was apparently Dončić and Reaves’ eighth win without James. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Dončić and Reaves have shared the court together without James in 10 games. So far, the Lakers duo is 8-2 without the King. It’s also worth noting that the duo has a net efficiency of +13.31.
Luka and Austin without LeBron this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/fZpjnKQYmG
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) March 8, 2026
While Dončić and Reaves get along well with James, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Lakers will be fine without the 41-year-old star if he leaves the team this offseason.
According to several reports, James is currently listed as day-to-day with a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis. James sustained his injury on Thursday against the Nuggets during the fourth quarter.
With 4:08 remaining in the quarter, James took it strong to the hoop with Nikola Jokić defending him. James then awkwardly landed on the floor, hurting his elbow and foot in the process.
While the Lakers have declared his injury legitimate, NBA analyst Skip Bayless believes James is faking it. This was mainly due to how James responded to his crash on the floor. In the replay, the footage made it seem like James was deciding on which elbow was hurting, the right or left elbow.
Whatever the case, James has already missed two consecutive games. Given that he’s listed as day-to-day, he’s likely not gone for too long.
