Drama in Hollywood, where the Lakers turned the game around in the fourth quarter but ultimately lost. Kevin Porter Jr. pinned Luka Doncic’s sixth foul on a three-point attempt at 101:101, and as a result the shooting converted at least two attempts and gave the Bucks an advantage.
Before that, however, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo who delivered a highlight with a block against LeBron James and the Greek was there again in defense after the Porter free throws. Antetokounmpo stole the ball from James during his drive and again it was Porter who finally closed the sack with two free throws.
James, meanwhile, narrowly missed a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds and ten assists, but it was the 41-year-old who brought the Lakers back into the game with 13 points. The Bucks led by up to twelve points, but seemed to have things under control.
Doncic fouls out late
Antetokounmpo recorded 21 points (9/11) and six rebounds in 31 minutes, but the best scorer was Porter (22, 6 assists). For the Lakers, Luka Doncic had a weak evening by his standards (in his own words: “it was a terrible evening”) with 24 points (8/25 FG), nine rebounds and nine assists. Otherwise, only Jake LaRavia (13), who hit an important three-pointer in crunch time, scored in double figures. Maxi Kleber remained without a point in 3:16 minutes, but still recorded two rebounds and an assist.
As a result of the defeat, the Lakers slip to fifth place in the West, the Bucks remain eleventh in the East, but are only half a game behind tenth place. LA now has a break for a few days; things won’t continue in Sacramento until Tuesday night. Milwaukee is back in Denver a day earlier.
