Lakers 102 vs 109 Bucks summary: score, stats and highlights | NBA
The Milwaukee Bucks pulled out the win over the Los Angeles Lakers to secure just their second home victory in what has been a very shaky start to the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded for a season high 47 points in the Bucks 109-102 win at Fiserv Forum.
Both teams with slow starts to season
Both teams came into Wednesday’s game between the last two NBA champions drastically underperforming. The Lakers weren’t able to take advantage of an easy early schedule in which they played 12 of their first 15 games at home. The Lakers hit the road for the first of a five game East coast swing.
If any team have been more disappointing than the Lakers to start the season, it has been the defending champions. The Bucks have been dealing with injuries and COVID, but they got some good news before the game when it was announced Khris Middleton was returning after recovering from COVID.
LeBron misses tenth game
While the Bucks got a big boost with the addition of Middleton, the Lakers were left without LeBron James for a tenth straight game.
Middleton got off to a cold start in his return to action, but it was no problem for the Bucks who were led from the start by their Greek superstar. Antetokounmpo got off to a blazing start, scoring 17 points in the first quarter.
Middleton level with Ray Allen for most Buck's threes
Bobby Portis came to life in the second quarter and help give the Bucks a lead they would not give up until late in the third quarter. The Laker lead lasted only moments as Milwaukee as Middleton scored 10 quick points to end the third and begin the fourth quarter. On his second and final three pointer of the game he tied Ray Allen for the most three pointers made in franchise history.
A big Pat Connaughton deep ball and a couple of back-to-back and-1’s for Giannis secured the win for the Bucks late in the fourth quarter.
With no Brook Lopez, Milwaukee played a zone defense for much of the game to try to limit Anthony Davis and the rest of the Lakers big guys, and it worked wonders for Mike Budenholzer. The Bucks held Davis to 19 points while edging LA 52-48 on the rebounding end.
Giannis: 47 points on 23 shots
The Greek Freak flirted with perfection in his 47 point performance shooting 18-23 from the field, while Middleton had 16 points and 6 assists in his return.
The Bucks improve to 7-8 on the year while the Lakers fall to .500 at 8-8. LA will carry on with their five game road trip, and all indications point to LeBron returning for the Lakers next game against the Celtics. The Bucks are back home for the next four games and will be hoping to come out of that stretch with a winning record.
I think were at the point where we take these sort of perormances form Giannis for granted. He had 47 points and 9 rebounds, but games like tonight's area almost expected from his now.
The was only the second Bucks win on their home floor this season. It came at a much needed time for the defending champs
The Bucks run out of the clock and get a much needed win!!!
Giannis hits both and the Bucks are back up by 7. The Green is three points away from 50!!
The Lakers start to foul with under 30 seconds left, and Giannis will go to the line where he's 6/9 tonight
Westbrook and HTH with a couple quick buckets and the Lakers cut the lead to 6 with a minute left.
Giannis with another and 1 and the Bucks spread the lead back to 10 after the three point play
Under 3 to go in the fourth quarter and the Bucks are in control
Giannis on a jump hook, gets fouled and drops the bucket. FT is good for the Greek and he's fot 42.
Middleton gets fouled on the long two point shot, that looked one of those that the NBA is trying to avoid where the offensive player looks to draw contact on the jump shot.
Middleton makes both FTs.
5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter! Bucks lead by 9 after Monk's finish at the rim.
Connaughton in the corner for three and the Bucks lead by 7
Davis with a mid range jumper to cut into the lead. Timeout Lakers with 7:14 to go in the fourth quarter.
MIddleton with two in a row!! And Middleton ties Ray Allen for most three pointers made in Bucks history.
Timeout Lakers with 8:42 to go in the fourth
Middleton gets his first three ball of the game three minutes into the fourth quarter
LA sat into a zone in that third quarter and cut into the lead. Fourth quarter coming up
The third quarter comes to an end with the Bucks up by 2.
Milwaukee led by as many as 12, but the Lakers closed the gap and even took the lead
Middleton with a couple quick jumpers and he might be getting warmed up heading into the fourth quarter.
Connaughton stops the Lakers run with a three ball and the Bucks take the lead back quickly
Davis gets the mid ranger and LA lead for the first time since it was 36-35
A 7-0 run by the Lakers has cut the Bucks lead to one and Milwaukee will take a timeout.
Davis with a staredown of the ref after finishing the fast break with a dunk and receiving some contact from the attempted block from Giannis.
He's got to be careful, he got ejected last game against the Bulls.
HTH hits another, and the Lakers are on a 6-0 run
Anthony out of the timeout with a three ball
Giannis with a three ball, and then Allen hits one right after! 60-72 Bucks lead.
The Lakers start off going after the rack. HTH and Davis with a few buckets around the basket.
The Lakers had 22 points in the paint in the first half, Giannis had 20.
Westbrook leads the Lakers with 14 points while Horton-Tucker has 10.
Davis has 8 points on 4/8 shooting
Giannis had a season high 28 points on 12/13 in the first half.
Bobby Portis coming in big with 17 points in the opening two quarters
The first half come to a close and it's the Milwaukee Bucks up 63-54.
Giannis with a three ball! and he's got 28 points in the half
Portis is eating on the offensive boards!!! A couple straight offensive and gets the put back to go.
Giannis has 25 points and he's got his best half of the season.
Connaughton fouled on the three ball by Davis and the Bucks sharp shooter hits two of three
Giannis now has over 20 with 5 minutes to go in the half.
The Bucks are using a zone against Howard and Davis, since Brook Lopez is out with a back injury. The Bucks don't have too much in terms of depth at center.
Portis with 5 straight points and the Bucks are on an 8-2 run that will force the Lakers to take a timeout
THT on the reverse and the Lakers lead only for a moment. Bobby Portis give the lead right back with a dunk down the lane.
Anthony bails out Middleton by fouling him on a three point shot and let's see if comes to life after seeing three free throws go down.
Middleton has started 0-4 from the field, and he looks a little out of rythym
Giannis was 7/8 from the field and 2/3 from the line for 17 points in the opening quarter
Rondo ends the quarter with a three ball to give the Lakers the lead at the end of the first quarter.
Davis fighting down low to get to the iron and LA is looking like they're having to work a little harder to get their baskets right now.
Middleton to the line, and he gets his first points of the game after splitting the free throws.
Giannis head to the bench for the final minute of the first quarter and he's got 17 points already.
The Bucks take their first lead with a three ball from the top of the key. And Giannis showing all the work he did with his shot in the offseaon is paying off.
Middleton has yet to get going, understandable after a long time out
Connaughton is starting to warm up, he's got a couple three balls and the Lakers need a timeout after an 11-4 run
Giannis going to the bucket strong, and there's no stopping him once he starts charging to the bucket. He's got 11 points already
Horton-Tucker drops the three, and the Lakers have started 6-8 from downtown
Portis posting up Westbrook gets the bucket, and 1. He's the first Buck to score not named Giannis.
Timeout with under 7 to go in the first quarter.
Giannis in tranisition this time, and he's got all 8 Milwaukee points.
Giannis with a couple straight buckets
Giannis stops the cold streak with a big slam
Westbrook with a three ball, while the Bucks have started 0-4 from the field.
How will Middleton comeout after missing so many games with COVID?
Davis gets the first bucket of the game for the Lakers. He got tossed in the last game against the Bulls
The last two NBA Champions going toe-to-toe. We are underway from Fiserv Forum.
Star Watch:
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers with 24.2 ppg, 10.9 rpg, and 2.9 apg.
Giannis is averaging 26.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg, and 6 apg.
We are just minutes away from tip off at Fiserv Forum!!
According to Bet365.com the Bucks are 9 point favorites with the Over/Under at 225.5
Giannis is off to a good start, even though the Bucks aren't
Middleton back from COVID
Khris Middleton has missed the last eight games after testing positive for COVID, but returns tonight giving Giannis Antetokounmpo a break from having to shoulder the scoring burden.
No Lopez, no party
The Bucks center has played in only one game this season, and Milwaukee’s struggles have shown just how important Lopez’s presence is in the paint. Mike Budenholzer has used Bobby Portis, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo as his big, but to no avail.
Title hangerover is real
It has been far from a dream start to the season for the defending champions who have started the year 6-8 and are dealing with a handful of injured players. Brooks Lopez has been sidelined with a back injury.
LeBron on bench for 10th game
LeBron will miss tonight’s game although the Lakers are optimistic that he will be available for the second game of the road trip against the Boston Celtics. LA is 4-5 in the nine games LeBron has missed.
Davis: We suck
Just ask Anthony Davis, who told reporters “We suck.” He went on to say “We’re not winning a championship the way were playing” after the Lakers took a 121-103 loss to the Bulls on Monday night.
LA's reasons for rough start
You can blame injuries, LeBron James has missed nine games already this year. You can blame a new team with no identity, the offseason revamping of the Lakers roster has been taken it’s toll on Frank Vogel and the rest of the team. You can blame an overdose of ego and star power, with Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook joining LeBron and Anthony Davis managing personalities will be just as difficult as the X’s and O’s. But the simple fact is that the Lakers are not playing well.
Lakers hit the road
The Lakers begin an East coast swing after a playing 12 of their first 15 games at the Staples Center. Despite their schedule being pretty light, Los Angeles is just 8-7 going into their first real road trip.
Lakers vs. Bucks
Hello everyone and welcome to the Fiserv Forum where the Los Angeles Lakers hit the road to take on the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks tonight. AS English will be keeping you covered with live scores, stats, highlights and analysis from tonight’s showcase game in the NBA.