New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers Preview: How, Who to Watch Against LeBron James and Co.

The New York Knicks will end a trip out west with another visit to Los Angeles, facing LeBron James in the Lakers' realm.

All the New York Knicks want for Christmas is some defense.

The Knicks have had trouble stopping scoring since starting center Mitchell Robinson was lost to a lengthy ankle injury and now they have to face LeBron James, the all-time leading points earner in NBA history on Monday night when they face the Los Angeles Lakers. Monday will end a four-game West Coast swing for the Knicks, who will return to New York to face the Brooklyn Nets before a Christmas weekend doubleheader at Madison Square Garden.

Despite Jalen Brunson's historic evening on Friday, this five-game trip has been dangerous for the Knicks, who are coming off a 144-122 loss to the Lakers' Crypto.com Arena roommates, the Los Angeles Clippers. It was the second time that the Knicks had let up at least 140 this month after doing so on only nine previous occasions since the turn of the century.

The quest to salvage the road trip gets no easier with Monday's showdown against the Lakers: Los Angeles is back in action for the first time since Friday's shocking defeat to the woebegone San Antonio Spurs, who saw an 18-game losing streak end despite a 23-point, 14-assist double-double from James. 

This will be the first of the yearly couple between the Knicks and Lakers, with a rematch scheduled for Feb. 3 at MSG. The two sides have split each of the last three with both prevailing on foreign hardwood last season.  

What: New York Knicks (14-11) @ Los Angeles Lakers (15-11)

Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

When/Watch: Monday, 10:30 p.m. ET, MSG

Who's Favored: LAL -4.5

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Keep An Eye On: Julius Randle

Randle's first NBA days came with the Lakers, but he has obviously been on the reunion circuit a few times before. This time around, Randle can help the Knicks by getting them off to a good start from the field. Randle certainly hasn't been hesitant about getting right to the point: entering this week, the two-time All-Star is tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo for sixth in points scored in the first quarter this season (192). How he earns those tallies is often a harbinger of the Knicks' daily fate: New York 7-3 when Randle hits at least 50 percent of his opening period attempts and 7-8 otherwise.

Laker to Watch: Cam Reddish

Has Reddish, a highly scrutinized draft/college classmate of RJ Barrett's, found a Hollywood ending with the Lakers? It's obviously a small sample size but Reddish appears to have endeared himself to James and his confidants, particularly through strong defensive endeavors. Monday will mark Reddish's first time facing the Knicks since they sent him out west in the trade that obtained Josh Hart from Portland. He did not appear in Friday's loss to San Antonio due to a knee injury but was not on the injury report for the Knicks' visit. 

They Said It

“Two words I can think of (are) energy and tenacity. That’s two things, they go hand-in-hand in my eyes. We have stretches of it. We have stretches of it where we make runs. We look really good. I think we’re playing damn good basketball on the offensive end. But that defensive end ... it starts with the effort. You can’t do anything scheme-wise unless you have effort, and I think that’s what we need to step up as players. You have to look at yourself in the mirror and you have to go out there and compete and I think that’s first and foremost what we need to do a little bit harder and better.”-Donte DiVincenzo on the Knicks' defensive struggles (h/t Steve Popper, Newsday)

Why LeBron James Chose Lakers over Knicks

Prediction

Even with Davis potentially out, the Knicks' recent defensive work leaves far too much to be desired to be optimistic against a Laker group riding some early momentum thanks to the recent In-Season Tournament title. The Knicks have proven they can at least shoot their way into individual contention on a nightly basis and they've proven they can scratch out victories in the face of adversity. For now, though, it feels like the Lakers are a little too much to handle.

Lakers 124, Knicks 121