New York Knicks: Keys to defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 21

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2017 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-109 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2017 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-109 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2017 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-109 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2017 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 113-109 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks will travel to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, Jan. 21. What must New York do in order to improve to 22-25?


The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers were once storied rivals. Between 1951 and 1973, the Knicks and Lakers met in the NBA Finals on five separate occasions, with the orange and blue emerging victories in 1970 and 1973.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, the Knicks and Lakers will resume the rivalry in a rematch of one of the most exciting games of the 2017-18 NBA regular season.

While the record may be familiar, the 2017-18 Knicks aren’t like the teams that let fans down in every season since 2012-13. New York is showing toughness and character in the face of adversity, seemingly responding to every challenge it encounters by rising to the occasion.

As the Knicks toe the line between the postseason picture and the draft lottery, however, must-win territory is becoming all too familiar territory.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, the Knicks will again find themselves in desperate need of a victory. New York is coming off of a thrilling 117-115 road win over the Utah Jazz, but with games against the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets looming, it must win the outings it’s expected to.

The question is: What must the New York Knicks do in order to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in Sunday’s rematch of the 1973 NBA Finals?