MILWAUKEE — The stressful trip grew even more trying for the Lakers when two more of their core players weren’t able to play in the last leg of a five-game journey that tested L.A. in many ways.
Steady defensive ace Marcus Smart (viral illness) and the solid Rui Hachimura (left calf soreness) missed the second night of back-to-back games against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night at Fiserv Form, the two of them sidelined along with LeBron James (right sciatica) and Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain).
That left it up to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton along with the rest of the Lakers to finish off the eight-day trip the right way and overcome the dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Doncic, Reaves and Ayton combined for 86 points in helping the Lakers open a 31-point, first-half lead that went a long way in them pulling off a 119-95 win over the Bucks.
Doncic led the way with 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists, doing his part to help the Lakers finish their trip 3-2. Doncic was nine-for-19 shooting from the field, including five for 11 from three-point range. He made 18 of 20 free throws.
Reaves had 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds while Ayton had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but his effort wasn’t enough to help the Bucks.
The Lakers’ big lead got sliced to 13 in the fourth quarter, but Doncic and Reaves wouldn’t let the Lakers lose, both drilling threes or making free throws to ensure they pulled out the win.
The Lakers started the trip with a loss in Atlanta to a Hawks team missing several of their starters and key role players. Then the Lakers lost to the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder by 29 points, leaving them staggering at 1-2 on the trip.
But the Lakers got their mojo back in New Orleans against the Pelicans and then went out and smoked the Bucks while being even more shorthanded.
Lakers coach JJ Redick’s only update on Hachimura’s injured calf was “that it’s tight.”
Redick was asked if Hachimura was injured against the Pelicans.
“I think he’s been having some tightness all week,” Redick said. “With a back-to-back, probably just smart to hold him out tonight. But I don’t think it will be a lingering thing.”
Redick had said he expected to play rookie Adou Thiero this weekend and he did.
Thiero, who had been out all season while recovering from left knee surgery, entered the game for the first time this season with 1 minute, 48 seconds left in the first quarter.
When asked what he wanted to see from Thiero, Redick said: “Very simple — just be a banshee.”
The Lakers went hard in the second quarter, outscoring the Bucks 35-16 in building a 63-34 lead at the half.
Ayton was a big force in the second quarter, scoring 14 points on six-for-nine shooting and grabbing four rebounds.
The Lakers shot 63.6% from the field in the second quarter, 50% from three-point range (two for four). Their defense was stellar in the quarter, holding the Bucks to 15.8% shooting.
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