Luka Doncic scores 41 goals as Lakers defeat Milwaukee Bucks to win road game 3-2
The stressful trip became even more taxing for the Lakers when two other key players were unable to play in the final leg of a five-game road trip that tested LA in many ways.
Steady defensive ace Marcus Smart (viral illness) and solid Rui Hachimura (left calf soreness) missed the second night of back-to-back games Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, the two sidelined along with LeBron James (sciatica) and Gabe Vincent (sprained left ankle).
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That left Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton to lead the rest of the Lakers to the finish line of the eight-day road trip and overcome Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance.
Doncic, Reaves and Ayton combined for 86 points, and the Lakers opened a 31-point halftime lead that went a long way in pulling off a 119-95 win over the Bucks.
Read more: With LeBron close to returning, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic lead the Lakers past the Pelicans
Doncic led the way with 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists, making big shots and getting to the line to fend off the Bucks and help the Lakers finish their road trip 3-2. Doncic hit nine of 19 from the field, including five of 11 from three-point range. He made 18 of 20 free throws.
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“I think it’s really incredible,” Doncic said. “We played back-to-back. I think AR and I played about 40 minutes yesterday. We had a long flight, arriving at 3 in the morning. Everyone’s tired. So just to come out and be up 30 at halftime, it’s amazing. It says a lot about the group.”
Reaves had 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds and also hit big shots to stall the Bucks’ comeback, while Ayton had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but his effort wasn’t enough to lift the Bucks, who were also playing back-to-backs.
The Lakers’ lead dwindled to 13 in the fourth quarter, but Doncic and Reaves didn’t let the Lakers lose their grip, both drilling threes and making free throws to ensure they got the win.
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Reaves scored 17 points in the second half. In the final 24 minutes he went five of seven from 3-point range. Doncic scored 20 points in the second half and was two of five from three-point range.
“They make the run, we go up 22, then they cut again,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And then Luka and AR, as they did all night, led us. And as they have all season. Those guys did an amazing job of leading our basketball team.”
The Lakers began the road trip with a loss in Atlanta to a Hawks team missing several starters and key players. Then the Lakers lost to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder by 29, leaving them reeling at 1-2 on the road.
But the Lakers found their mojo again Friday in New Orleans against the Pelicans, then came out and smoked the Bucks despite being even more shorthanded.
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“To go 3-2 on a trip like this early in the year is good,” Reaves said. “Obviously you wish we could have played a little better in Atlanta and OKC, but it’s the championship and you’re going to have nights like that and you have to learn to move forward.
“We had a good win last night and you have to learn to move on. … So it’s nice to be 3-2 on this trip.”
Redick was asked if Hachimura was injured against the Pelicans.
“I think he had a little tension all week,” Redick said. “With a back-to-back, it was probably smart to keep him out tonight. But I don’t think it’s going to be a lingering thing.”
Redick had said he expected rookie Adou Thiero to make his debut this weekend, and the 6-foot-8 forward did.
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Asked what he wanted to see from Thiero, Redick said: “Very simple: Just be a banshee.”
Thiero, ready to start the season while recovering from left knee surgery, had four points and an offensive rebound in five minutes, scoring his first NBA basket with a fast-break dunk off an assist from Bronny James, who started the game.
Lakers forward Adou Thiero dunks on the Bucks’ Andre Jackson Jr. during the second half on Saturday. (Morry Gash/Associated Press)
“I actually saw Bronny steal the ball and run down the left side of the court and I thought, ‘Let me run as hard as I can and see what happens,’ Thiero said. “He was able to find me and help me get my first bucket. So it was a good feeling. Happy it happened.
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After the dunk, the players on the Lakers bench cheered, smiling and laughing. Thiero received the match ball after the victory.
“Every time I dunked the ball, I could feel them. So, it was pretty hyped,” Thiero said. “But coming down and seeing everyone flexing and the whole bench. It was a great feeling for everyone to be happy for me.”
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.