Exactly one year ago today, Jalen Brunson’s New York Knicks fell 128-112 to LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden.
A few hours later, JJ Redick’s club traded for Luka Dončić in one of the NBA’s biggest blockbuster trades of the 21st century.
Now, 365 days later, the two elite clubs meet again for a big pre-All-Star Game MSG showdown. Ahead of the game, the Knicks sit near the top of the Eastern Conference standings while the Lakers are smack dab in the middle of the competitive West.
Lakers vs. Knicks: what to know
- When: Feb. 1, 7 p.m. ET
- Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, New York)
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try genre packs for free)
Throw in the fact that there’s a slight possibility this is LeBron’s last game at the Garden — if he shocks the world and retires after the 2025-26 campaign — and this is must-see TV.
Lakers vs. Knicks start time:
The Lakers vs. Knicks game tips off at 7 p.m. ET today (Feb. 1).
How to watch Lakers vs. Knicks for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching basketball live for free — it has a five-day free trial and there are a ton of options for plans that include NBC, including genre packs that offer more flexibility at lower price points. You can subscribe to the MyNews ($39.99/month) or MySports ($69.99/month) genre pack for access to NBC.
NBA on NBC talent
Tonight marks the debut of Basketball Night in America aka NBC Sports’ weekly on-site NBA studio show that will give fans added perspective on NBA and Peacock at 6 p.m. ET.
NBC Sports’ Maria Taylor hosts with Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady at her side. All editions will take place at a different NBA Arena each week.
To add extra intrigue, WNBA generational talent Caitlin Clark is set to join the group as a special contributor beginning today. She’ll return to the studio for the March 29 Knicks-Thunder contest in Oklahoma City.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.