The Los Angeles Lakers are hosting the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles tonight. The Lakers are on a back-to-back without travel, having defeated the Denver Nuggets last night. Meanwhile, the Bucks have lost two straight games and will be eager to turn things around in Los Angeles.
The Lakers squared off against the Nuggets last night and secured a 120-108 victory. It was a blowout, with Denver missing both Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray.
Luka Dončić was the player of the game for the Lakers, finishing with 31 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. He had an efficient night, making 10 of his 21 shot attempts, while also contributing two steals and one block. Austin Reaves added 22 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, matching Luka with two steals and one block. Reaves shot 8-of-16 from the field. The Lakers set the tone early, scoring 46 points in the first quarter.
Despite being without LeBron James, Maxi Kleber, and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers received valuable contributions from their bench. Rookie Dalton Knecht scored 12 points, while defensive specialist Jarred Vanderbilt added 10 points and three steals. Backup point guard Gabe Vincent chipped in with 12 points, hitting four of his six three-point attempts.
All five Lakers starters recorded at least one steal, highlighting the team’s defensive intensity. Head coach JJ Redick deserves credit for keeping the squad locked in on that end of the floor.
The Lakers currently hold the third spot in the Western Conference with a record of 43-25. They boast a strong home record of 28-7 at Crypto.com Arena and are riding a three-game winning streak. This follows a previous four-game losing streak.
The Lakers faced the Bucks on the road on March 13 and suffered a 126-106 defeat. With Rui Hachimura and LeBron James out tonight, Dončić and company will be eager to avenge that loss.
The Bucks are coming off two consecutive losses: a 104-93 defeat to the Golden State Warriors on the road and a 121-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at home. Milwaukee has struggled recently, losing five of their last seven games.
Head coach Doc Rivers has been cautious with star players Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, ensuring they get some rest before the postseason. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the Bucks are looking to gain momentum and prove they can compete with top teams.
The Bucks currently occupy the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference with a 38-30 record. Their road performance has been inconsistent, sitting at 14-18. The Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Bucks are battling for the fourth, fifth, and sixth seeds in the East. With 14 games remaining in the regular season, home-court advantage in the first round is still up for grabs.
Milwaukee has four more games left on their current road trip, facing the Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and Denver Nuggets.
The Bucks' recent performance against the Warriors was underwhelming. Giannis struggled, scoring just 20 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Kyle Kuzma led the team with 22 points, while Lillard had an off night, making only two of his nine three-point attempts.
Bobby Portis Jr. remains out due to suspension, while backup big man Jericho Sims is listed as questionable. The Bucks will need a stronger effort against the Lakers if they hope to end their losing streak.
