Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso, right, shoots as New York Knicks forward Michael Beasley defends during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle, right, dunks as New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis, left, of Latvia, watches during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram, right, has his shot blocked by New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis, of Latvia, during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers center Brook Lopez, left, shoots as New York Knicks center Enes Kanter, of Turkey, defends during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr., top, dunks as New York Knicks center Kyle O’Quinn defends during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)



New York Knicks center Enes Kanter, right, of Turkey, dunks as Los Angeles Lakers guard Tyler Ennis defends during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis, right, of Latvia, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle defends during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New York Knicks forward Tim Hardaway Jr., right, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center Brook Lopez defends during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New York Knicks center Enes Kanter, left, of Turkey, tries to shoot as Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram defends during the first half on an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES – Alex Caruso tracks the days with an app on his phone. He knows exactly how many more he has left with the Lakers, each one representing an opportunity to make an impression, to build a career.

“I only get 45 days,” Caruso said, “so I’ve got to make the most of them.”

Caruso is one of two players on a two-way contract, meaning he spends most of his time with the South Bay Lakers, where he is a leader and a top scorer, averaging 18.4 points per game. It is those 45 days with the big club for which the contract provides, however, that he holds most sacred.

“Getting opportunities like this is what guys in my position live for,” Caruso said on Sunday, which he of course knew was his 24th day with the Lakers.

When his team allowed the New York Knicks to score six quick points after halftime in Sunday’s, Coach Luke Walton turned to his bench and summoned Caruso. The second-year guard entered the game with 10:11 left in the third quarter.

Caruso never checked back out, scoring 9 points and adding 7 assists to help the Lakers beat the Knicks 127-107.

Jordan Clarkson followed up his 33-point outburst Thursday against the Pacers with 29 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, and Julius Randle erupted for 27 points and 12 rebounds.

But it was Caruso who seemed to give the Lakers their biggest spark.

A “very intelligent” player, and “tough,” according to his coach, Caruso may be a bit of a mystery to casual fans. Even within the Lakers locker room he is known to be quiet, opening up most when the conversation shifts to the English Premier League and Caruso’s club of choice, Manchester City.

Six-foot-five with a receding hairline that has been the subject of social media ridicule courtesy of Golden State star Draymond Green, Caruso could easily be mistaken for the winner of a “Laker for a Day” raffle.

“He may not look the part,” forward Larry Nance Jr. said, “but that is an NBA player. There’s no doubt in my mind. It doesn’t shock us. We’ve seen it in practice, we’ve seen it in training camp. Seeing it in the game is no surprise.”

And yet, with Lonzo Ball sidelined for the immediate future with a sprained left knee, the Lakers may have stumbled into an answer at point guard. Caruso, at the very least, gives Walton another option along with Tyler Ennis, who has started the last five games but went scoreless with two assists in 11 minutes on Sunday.

Clarkson first encountered Caruso in college, when he played at Missouri and Caruso starred at Texas A&M.

“I used to hate playing against AC in college,” he said. “One of them pesky dudes getting in you defensively. Get people involved. It’s good we got him on the squad.”

Caruso was the first player off the bench in Walton’s third quarter shuffling, which saw him stick with a lineup that featured Clarkson, Nance, Julius Randle, Corey Brewer and Brandon Ingram for most of the second half.

In the first half, the Lakers (17-29) shot 51 percent to build a 67-63 lead, but the Knicks (21-26) had buried 59.1 percent of their shots, including 6-of-13 on 3-pointers.

“Free-flowing,” was how Walton described it, and that was concerning.

“When games are like that,” he said, “either team can win down the stretch.”

So with a captive audience at halftime, Walton stressed the importance of defense. Within two minutes, every starter had been pulled from the game.

Corey Brewer made a 3-pointer with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter to give the Lakers a 90-89 advantage. The Lakers scored the final 10 points of the quarter to take 97-89 lead into the final period.

“We just stuck with them because they were playing hard and playing the right way,” Walton said.

Caruso first caught the Lakers eye at summer league in Las Vegas, when he scored 18 points and contributed nine assists in a win over Sacramento early in the tournament. Executives Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka quickly put a two-way contract in front of Caruso, who happily signed.

Before Sunday, however, Caruso had made little impression in games with the Lakers.

“I feel like he hasn’t been as aggressive when he has had his opportunities with us, as far as how good of a player he is,” Walton said.

Against the Pacers on Thursday, Caruso played a then-career high 28 minutes, scored five points added four assists and drove the lane for a highlight-worthy dunk.

“ I think at times I can get a little bit too robotic trying not to mess up rather than just going out and playing and let the game come to me.” Caruso said. “But I think I’m starting to grow out of that.”

He has time to show what more he can offer. Twenty-one days, in fact.