The Los Angeles Lakers (10-4) have faced a lot of early adversity this season, but you couldn’t tell by their performance against the Milwaukee Bucks (8-6) on Saturday. Despite missing several rotation players, including LeBron James, they cruised to an easy 119-95 victory that sent a powerful message to end their five-game road trip.
Luka Doncic, who had been struggling with his shot, finally snapped out of his funk to deliver a 41-point masterpiece. Joined by Austin Reaves (25) and Deandre Ayton (20), Doncic carried the Lakers to a dominant win defined by a barrage of scoring from their “big three.”
For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo managed to drop 32 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block on 9-15 shooting, but it wasn’t nearly enough to withstand the Lakers’ red-hot shooting. Milwaukee fought back with 38 points in the third quarter before ultimately conceding defeat.
In this rating, we tell the story of this impressive Lakers victory one player at a time and explain how they achieved such dominance without several key contributors.
Luka Doncic: A+
Game Stats: 41 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK; 9-19 FG, 5-11 3PT, 18-20 FT; 38 MIN
Luka Doncic had been battling through some tough defensive teams over the last few games, but he bounced back tonight with an explosive offensive performance, dropping 41 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists on 9-19 shooting. He elevated his game in the absence of LeBron and played with aggression and purpose from the opening tip. He took smart shots and played within the flow of the game, getting to the line for a game-high 20 free throw attempts (18-20).
Deandre Ayton: A
Game Stats: 20 PTS, 10 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK; 9-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT; 28 MIN
Deandre Ayton joined the Lakers with a lot of baggage, but he’s been one of their most consistent players this season. Tonight, he showed that consistency again by being a commanding presence under the rim, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block in 28 minutes. With five fouls in the game, he cut it close down the stretch but still pulled through with another solid performance.
Austin Reaves: A
Game Stats: 25 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK; 9-17 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-3 FT; 36 MIN
Austin Reaves is having his best season yet in the NBA, and his streak continued against the Bucks with 25 points on 9-17 shooting. He was in a rhythm all night, especially from three (5-9), providing a crucial scoring boost with the team down several starters. Best of all, he was at the top of his playmaking game, employing a smart and patient brand of basketball that led to a game-high eight assists.
Jaxson Hayes: B
Game Stats: 10 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK; 3-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-4 FT; 16 MIN
Jaxson Hayes was a crucial defensive anchor tonight, helping hold the Bucks to 40% shooting as a team. He made the most of 16 minutes of playtime, making his presence felt as a lob threat with Luka and a big body in the paint. He was the Lakers’ highest bench scorer tonight with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist on 3-4 shooting.
Dalton Knecht: B-
Game Stats: 9 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK; 4-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT; 33 MIN
Knecht was very active in the first half, grabbing five rebounds while going 3-3 from the field. While he eventually cooled off, the young shooter still had a solid game overall and made smart decisions on the floor. He finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals, proving his worth in more ways than one. Redick played him a lot tonight, hinting at a potentially bigger role in the future.
Jake LaRavia: C
Game Stats: 4 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK; 1-10 FG, 0-4 3PT, 2-2 FT; 36 MIN
Jake LaRavia got the start tonight with both Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura being late scratches. With just 4 points and 6 rebounds, he wasn’t as impactful as Reaves or Ayton. Still, he was a team-high +26 in the game, proving that his influence goes beyond the stats. At just 24 years old, Jake played with surprising confidence, earning the second-most minutes on the team (36:32) even though he didn’t score much.
Maxi Kleber: C
Game Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK; 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT; 25 MIN
Maxi Kleber is clearly still shaking off the rust after missing so much time. He’s only been back for a few games, and it showed on the court as he was several steps behind. It’s good that Redick gave him some reps tonight, and he responded well with a positive influence on the game. He finished with a modest stat line of 3 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists on 1-1 shooting from three.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C
Game Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK; 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT; 7 MIN
Jarred Vanderbilt had limited playtime in this one, and his role in the rotation remains unclear. While his defensive presence is notable, Vando’s inconsistent shooting often makes him a liability down the stretch. This season, he’s had practically no offensive game at all, making it hard to justify heavy minutes. He showed some signs of improvement tonight but still has a long way to go.
Adou Thiero: C-
Game Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK; 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT; 4 MIN
It’s hard to judge a rookie on his first NBA game, but Thiero did about as well as you’d expect. This late in the game, he’s a little behind the development process, but he showed flashes with natural instincts, confidence with the ball, and a strong competitive fire.
Bronny James: D
Game Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK; 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT; 9 MIN
Bronny James made the starting lineup tonight due to several key injuries, but he probably shouldn’t have been out there otherwise. Somehow, in a blowout win, James was -6 on the court, a clear sign that he’s not ready for the spotlight. With 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 0 blocks on 0-2 shooting, James struggled to make a positive impact and lasted just 9 minutes on the court in a shortened rotation.
