Luka Dončić put on a show in Milwaukee, and the Lakers made sure it ended in a blowout.
Dončić scored 41 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Austin Reaves added 25 points and eight assists as Los Angeles cruised past the Bucks, 119–95, on Saturday night at Fiserv Forum.
DeAndre Ayton chipped in with a strong double-double, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who controlled the game almost from the opening tip.
Both teams were playing the second night of a back-to-back after NBA Cup wins on Friday, but it was Los Angeles that looked far fresher. The Lakers jumped out to a 30–18 lead after the first quarter, holding Milwaukee to just three made three-pointers in the period.
Things got even tougher for the Bucks in the second quarter. Milwaukee went ice cold, shooting just 24 percent from the field and 19 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. The Lakers took full advantage, building a commanding 65–34 lead at the break.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead Milwaukee, while AJ Green scored 15 and Gary Trent Jr. added 13. Green sparked a third-quarter push with a flurry of three-pointers as the Bucks briefly cut the deficit to 14, but Dončić answered with eight quick points to restore a 20-point cushion.
Milwaukee made another run early in the fourth, trimming the lead to 13, but Los Angeles stayed composed and pulled away down the stretch.
The Lakers were without LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart, yet still delivered one of their most complete performances of the season.
Los Angeles hosts Utah on Tuesday, while Milwaukee heads to Cleveland on Monday.
