LA Lakers vs Milwaukee Bucks Game Player Stats and Box Scores for March 26, 2024
The LA Lakers began their six-game road trip on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers were off to a rocky start as the Bucks went on a 12-2 run. LA missed its first nine attempts, struggling to generate good looks on offense, with LeBron James sidelined with an ankle injury.
Giannis Antetokounmpo started the game aggressively, getting to the rim on his first three attempts and converting all. He also drew the first trips to the foul line. Giannis had seven of the Bucks' first 12 points.
The Bucks eventually stretched their lead to 29-10 after the Lakers' struggles continued. LA recorded one of its worst first quarters with a 32-16 deficit. The Lakers shot 6 of 23, including missing all their attempts from deep. Meanwhile, the Bucks shot 55.0%, including 4 of 9 from 3.
The Lakers went on a 17-7 run in the second quarter, attacking and guarding the paint much better than they did in the first quarter. The lead was trimmed to six points after a thunderous slam by Rui Hachimura.
However, the Bucks didn't take long to restore the lead once Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the floor. They went up 16 again behind his efforts and a Damian Lillard clutch 3 to end the half on a 17-7 run.
Gannis finished with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double in the first half.
LA Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Game Player Stats and Box Scores for March 26, 2024
LA Lakers Game Player Stats and Box Score
The Lakers started Spencer Dinwiddie in LeBron James' absence, with D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hacimura and Anthony Davis retaining their positions.
Taurean Prince and Jaxson Hayes were the first two players off the bench, while Cam Reddish and Max Christie joined them shortly.
Milwaukee Bucks Player Stats and Box Score
The Bucks stuck to their preferred starting five, with Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.
Bobby Portis was the first player to come off the bench, while Pat Connaughton, Jae Crowder and AJ Green joined him shortly.
LA Lakers take down Milwaukee behind Austin Reaves triple-double and monster Anthony Davis night
D’Angelo Russell started the third quarter in great rhythm, hitting three 3s to compensate for his underwhelming first half. He got the Lakers back into the game, getting the deficit down to eight after leading the Lakers to a 13-5 run to start the third.
However, the Bucks kept the Lakers at bay after the first timeout. They restored a 14-point lead entering the fourth quarter after the Lakers committed four consecutive turnovers.
The Bucks stretched that lead to 17 early in the fourth as the Lakers failed to take care of the ball and make shots consistently. Milwaukee also had the upper hand with their big frontline, making the most of LeBron James’ absence, forcing the Lakers to play a three-guard lineup consistently.
The Lakers again made a run, making it a five-point game behind a 16-2 run with 4:46 left. Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell were the key architects of that surge. The Bucks, meanwhile, had only eight points with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks restored the 10-point lead behind a 5-0 run out of a timeout, but the Lakers came back and made it a one-possession game by trimming the Bucks’ lead to 101-99, then tying the game 101-101 as Taurean Prince made a pair of free throws.
The Bucks had a couple of chances to take the lead and seal the win, but they missed both opportunities. Meanwhile, the Lakers nearly won it with 0.8 seconds left after Austin Reaves’ buzzer-beat from 3 rimmed out. The game went into overtime tied 101-101.
The Lakers and Bucks went back and forth in overtime. The Lakers took the lead behind consecutive 3s from Anthony Davis and Spencer Dinwiddie. The back and forth continued with both teams exchanging leads. Damian Lillard’s corner 3 with 13 seconds left gave Milwaukee a two-point separation, but the Lakers tied it with D’Angelo Russell making two free throws to tie the game again.
The second overtime began with both teams failing to make a shot before a few transition buckets and free throws from both ends tied the game 121-121. Austin Reaves made a clutch 3 to give the Lakers a 124-121 lead, which was followed by Giannis missing a pair of free throws.
The final score was 128-124. Davis finished with 32 points, 23 rebounds, two assists, two steals and four blocks. He also made three triples and hit the game-winning free throws.
The Bucks fell short despite Giannis' 29 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and three blocks and a 27-point, eight assists night from Damian Lillard.