Doncic’s 41-point showcase and Reaves’ 25 lead Lakers to dominant 119-95 victory over Bucks
Luka Doncic displayed an outstanding performance with 41 points and nine rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a commanding 119-95 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Austin Reaves also shone, contributing 25 points and eight assists. This game took place on Saturday night in Milwaukee.
Game Highlights
Both teams were coming off wins in their respective NBA Cup matchups on Friday. The Lakers were without several key players, including Rui Hachimura, who had calf tightness, and Marcus Smart, sidelined due to illness. LeBron James missed his 14th consecutive game due to sciatica.
- Lakers’ Key Players:
- Luka Doncic: 41 points, 9 rebounds
- Austin Reaves: 25 points, 8 assists
- Deandre Ayton: 20 points, 10 rebounds
- Bucks’ Key Players:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 32 points, 10 rebounds
- AJ Green: 15 points
- Gary Trent Jr.: 13 points
First Half Performance
The Lakers established an early lead, finishing the first quarter up 30-18. The Bucks struggled significantly, making only 3 of 12 shots from deep in that period. By halftime, Los Angeles expanded their lead to 65-34.
During the first half, Milwaukee’s shooting was poor, hitting just 10 of 41 shots for 24%, and managing only four 3-pointers out of 21 attempts (19%). In contrast, the Lakers capitalized on their chances, shooting 55% overall and hitting 5 of 13 from beyond the arc.
Second Half Rally
Milwaukee came out strong in the third quarter, initiating a 20-5 run led by AJ Green’s three 3-pointers. They scored a total of 38 points in that quarter, narrowing the gap to 14 points. However, Doncic responded effectively by scoring eight points to restore a 20-point lead for the Lakers.
Final Outcome
Despite a surge from the Bucks that brought them within 13 in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles maintained control throughout the game. The Lakers will next host the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, while the Bucks will travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
