Martin Lawrence, Sacha Baron Cohen, Flea, Bill Maher and a Parade of stars light Up Lakers vs. Knicks on Sunday

The stars came out for a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. Inside Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers hosted the Knicks in a nationally televised showcase between two of the NBA’s most historic franchises — two cities that see themselves not merely as markets but as cultural capitals. It was also the annual gathering of people who live in Los Angeles but arrive wearing their Knicks gear to let everyone know they’re originally from New York City. And like any big stage in either New York or Los Angeles, the seats were filled with stars. Yes, LeBron James was there.Luka Dončić, too.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns carried the hopes of Manhattan into the afternoon light.But on this particular Sunday, the audience sometimes felt just as headline-worthy as the performers.If the Knicks and Lakers represent basketball royalty, then the celebrities sitting courtside looked like a Hollywood premiere with a shot clock.Almost exactly one year ago, when the Lakers beat New York in a 113-109 overtime thriller, the celebrity roll call looked like an Oscars seating chart: Larry David, Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Kylie Jenner, Denzel Washington, John McEnroe, Brenda Song, Macaulay Culkin, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Connolly, Kyler Murray and Rams star Puka Nacua.Sunday’s game didn’t have as many big names on the marquee, but it was still star-studded as the Lakers defeated the Knicks soundly, 110-97, without James on the court.

It was easily the Lakers’ most impressive win of the season. Soaking in the atmosphere with the grin of someone who has seen plenty of big games in this town was actor Martin Lawrence, who sat across from James on the Lakers’ bench.To his right sat Jordan Howlett, the wildly popular internet personality known as “Jordan the Stallion.”Next to Howlett was Action Bronson — the Queens-born rapper and lifelong Knicks diehard — wearing a Knicks hat just as you’d expect.

Across the court from him was S...