BY: LEO BATO – SPORTS ON AIR USA CORRESPONDENT
LOS ANGELES — — The subject of trade rumors heading into the trading deadline, D’Angelo Russell proved that he deserves a spot with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Russell dropped 44 points on Friday, the last 2 the go-ahead bucket with 5.9 seconds to go, to lead the Lakers over the Milwaukee Bucks, 123-122, at Crypto.com Arena.
Anthony Davis added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who played without LeBron James. Austin Reaves chipped in 13 and Rui Hachimura finished with 12.
While so many players stepped up, it was Russell who owned the night.
The shifty lefty tied his career high with nine 3-pointers to go with nine assists. He scored eight points in the final 1:13 and allowed the Lakers to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
“D-Lo just stepped up and won us the game, and obviously with Spence with the defense on that last possession,” Reaves said. “Just seeing D-Lo take over the game, I constantly kept telling him in timeouts, ‘Take us home.’”
“I never lack confidence. I never fear confrontation. I want all the smoke. … I just feel confident in what I bring to the basketball game, so whatever room I walk in, I’m confident,” Russell told reporters of his 44-point outburst.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for Milwaukee. Lillard scored eight of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks couldn’t hang on and lost two in a row.
