Knicks guard Josh Hart was asked after the win on Monday about the defensive surge lately. "JB's not out there," Hart said, at first with a straight face, but then breaking into a smile. Indeed, offensive star Jalen Brunson--Hart's college teammate from Villanova and a close friend--has not been out there for the Knicks.

The New York Knicks are expected to be without Jalen Brunson for at least two weeks with an ankle injury he suffered to begin the team's Western Conference road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers. With Brunson out,

On a night when the Lakers' supporting cast struggled to make shots, they were carried by superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James.