Anthony Davis (34 PTS, 23 REB, 4 BLK) dominated as the Lakers pulled off a comeback 2OT 128-124 win over the Bucks.
The Los Angeles Lakers trailed for the first 50 minutes of their game against the Milwaukee Bucks, where LA overcame a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull a 128-124 win after 2OT. LeBron James didn’t play due to injury and fans went crazy watching the team pull this win off without James.
Fans were calling this an Anthony Davis legacy game.
Fans took time out to appreciate how Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis played.
Davis’ defense was incredibly solid all night and fans hailed him for the same.
Fans wanted Davis to get his respect after leading the Lakers to a 2-0 season sweep over the Bucks, with LeBron missing both games.
Some fans are calling this the signature win of the Lakers season.
The Lakers are looking incredibly solid in games where LeBron sits, as this improved their record to 6-4 without him.
The Lakers saw Anthony Davis play 51 minutes while dealing with an Achilles injury and put up 32 points, 23 rebounds, and four blocks in the win. D’Angelo Russell had 29 points and 12 assists while Austin Reaves put up a triple-double with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Rui Hachimura also had 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The Bucks were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 29 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists but it wasn’t enough. Damian Lillard put up 27 points and eight assists in an inefficient performance. Malik Beasley scored 21 points with some timely shots and Bobby Portis had 18 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.
The Lakers Overcome Their Biggest Regular Season Test
This was arguably the toughest remaining game on the Lakers’ schedule. The Bucks came into this game in good form, as the No. 2 seed in the East, and playing a Lakers team without LeBron James. Pulling this win off was huge for LA as they can keep their push for the No. 8 seed alive while the Warriors and Rockets battle it out for the No. 10 seed.
Four out of the next five Lakers opponents are lottery teams like the Grizzlies, Wizards, Nets, and Raptors. This is a golden stretch for the franchise as they need to maximize wins in these games. The Suns over the same stretch play only top-tier teams like the Nuggets, Thunder, Pelicans, and Wolves, so the Lakers have a legitimate shot at pushing up to the No. 8 seed. They’re currently 40-32 this season, sitting two games behind the Suns.
While the Lakers could mathematically secure a top-six seed still, the odds of them outpacing teams like the Mavericks and Kings are slimmer. The Suns are a realistic target to beat as their schedule is brutal over the end of the season.
The Lakers can write their own destiny this season if they can consistently put some wins together. They have only 10 games left to solidify their status as a competitive team in the West that could upset the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs.