The Lakers walk into Milwaukee with momentum, confidence, and one big complication. What was shaping up to be a clean close to their first long road trip has suddenly turned tricky. Two key rotation pieces have landed on the injury report, creating uncertainty ahead of a marquee matchup built around Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Rui Hachimura has been ruled out due to left calf soreness, a setback that comes just as he was putting together the best stretch of his season. Marcus Smart is questionable with a viral illness, leaving the Lakers unsure whether they will have one of their top perimeter defenders available against a Bucks team that runs its offense through Giannis and a wave of aggressive wings.
Those absences join the two long-standing ones. LeBron James remains sidelined as he continues to work through a sciatic nerve issue. Gabe Vincent is still rehabbing an ankle injury. The rest of the rotation is good to go, but losing Hachimura and possibly Smart changes the dynamic of a game that already required near-perfect execution.
Even so, the Lakers enter this matchup feeling good about where they stand. They’re 2-2 on this five-game road trip and coming off a composed, complete 118-104 win over the Pelicans. That performance showed what happens when their core pieces settle into rhythm.
Luka Doncic struggled with his jumper but dominated the pace of the game, finishing with 24 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds. Austin Reaves delivered again, dropping 31 points with the same blend of craft and competitiveness that has defined his hot start. And Deandre Ayton played his best all-around game as a Laker, putting up 20 points and 16 rebounds on 10-of-11 shooting.
All of that has pushed the Lakers to a 9-4 record, good for fourth in the West, and it has given them a real sense of direction heading into Saturday’s clash.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, is coming off a wild 147-134 overtime win over Charlotte. Giannis was in full command, posting 25 points, 18 assists, and seven rebounds, and Kyle Kuzma was a standout with 29 points and 10 boards. When the Bucks get rolling downhill, they can overwhelm teams in a hurry, especially at home.
They have their own injury concerns. Taurean Prince is recovering from surgery on a herniated disc, and Kevin Porter Jr. remains out after knee surgery. Giannis himself is listed as probable with a left knee issue. Still, at eight and five, the Bucks have found a groove and remain a tough matchup.
The big-picture story for Los Angeles is LeBron’s looming return. He recently went through an intense session with the South Bay Lakers and continues to trend toward game action. The team has a practice scheduled in Los Angeles on Monday, and there’s a realistic chance he could make his season debut Tuesday against Utah.
For now, though, the focus is Milwaukee. If the Lakers want to end this trip with a winning record, they need to lean on the trio that has carried them: Doncic’s control, Reaves’ scoring, and Ayton’s presence. Control the glass, avoid careless turnovers, and make Milwaukee shoot over the top.
Do that, and even without two important contributors, they can walk out of Fiserv Forum feeling like they took another step forward.
