Despite a spectacular 45-point, 11-rebound performance from Luka Doncic, the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t keep pace with the Milwaukee Bucks, falling 126-106 on Thursday night for their third straight loss. Doncic, who had 29 points by halftime, matched his season high in scoring and delivered his best performance since joining the Lakers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s depleted roster.Â
Austin Reaves added 28 points, but without LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes, and Rui Hachimura—who all remained in California due to injuries—the Lakers struggled to keep up. The lack of frontcourt depth forced extended minutes for big men Alex Len, Christian Koloko, and Markieff Morris, but they combined for just eight points in 46 minutes.Â
Los Angeles managed to stay within striking distance until late in the third quarter when Giannis Antetokounmpo fueled a 24-7 Bucks run that stretched a six-point game into a 23-point deficit.Â
With Milwaukee’s bench outscoring the Lakers’ reserves 45-20, the Bucks pulled away and handed Los Angeles another tough road loss. Let’s provide a rating for every Lakers player after a disappointing Thursday night performance.Â
Luka Doncic: A+
Stats: 45 PTS, 11 REB (1 OREB, 10 DREB), 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO, 2 PF, 14-27 FG, 7-13 3PT, 10-12 FT, -16, 36 MIN
Doncic put on a show with a jaw-dropping 45-point, 11-rebound performance, carrying the Lakers’ offense almost single-handedly. He was in complete control early, pouring in 29 first-half points and keeping the team within striking distance. His deep shooting (7-of-13 from three) and ability to get to the free-throw line were stellar, but six turnovers and Milwaukee’s defensive pressure wore him down late. Despite the loss, this was arguably Doncic’s best game as a Laker.
Austin Reaves: A
Stats: 28 PTS, 8 REB (0 OREB, 8 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 3 PF, 10-17 FG, 4-7 3PT, 4-4 FT, -6, 36 MIN
Reaves played a strong complementary role to Doncic, dropping 28 points on an efficient 10-of-17 shooting while adding eight rebounds. His ability to create his own shot and knock down four threes kept the Lakers competitive for much of the night. However, three turnovers and a lack of defensive impact made it tough for him to be a true difference-maker against the Bucks’ relentless attack.
Dalton Knecht: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 4-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 22 MIN
Knecht was a bright spot in spurts, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds while shooting 4-of-7. He showed flashes of being a reliable scorer but didn’t assert himself enough, especially when the Lakers needed secondary scoring. While his shooting efficiency was solid, he lacked defensive presence and struggled to impact the game beyond his scoring.
Gabe Vincent: C-
Stats: 6 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-10 FG, 0-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, -12, 26 MIN
Vincent had a rough night offensively, scoring just six points on 3-of-10 shooting while missing all five of his three-point attempts. His usual energy on defense was present, but his inability to hit open looks hurt the Lakers when they needed floor spacing. With LeBron and others out, Vincent had a chance to step up but failed to take advantage.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C-
Stats: 4 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -14, 15 MIN
Vanderbilt provided his usual hustle but was largely ineffective, finishing with four points and three rebounds in just 15 minutes. While he didn’t turn the ball over or commit a foul, his lack of aggression on the boards and minimal offensive impact made him a non-factor in a game where the Lakers desperately needed frontcourt production.
Markieff Morris: C-
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 1-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, 0, 12 MIN
Morris struggled to make a meaningful impact, scoring just four points with one rebound in 12 minutes. He hit a three-pointer but didn’t do much else, often getting outmatched defensively. His veteran presence was supposed to provide stability, but he was mostly invisible when the Lakers needed toughness in the paint.
Jordan Goodwin: C-
Stats: 0 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -17, 26 MIN
Goodwin had an off night, going scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting while contributing four rebounds and three assists. While his defense remained active, his inability to generate offense made it difficult for the Lakers to compete with Milwaukee’s deeper rotation. His -17 plus-minus was the worst on the team, highlighting his struggles.
Dorian Finney-Smith: D
Stats: 5 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF, 2-8 FG, 1-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, -16, 30 MIN
Finney-Smith had a rough outing, scoring just five points on 2-of-8 shooting while grabbing only one rebound. His usually reliable three-point shot was off (1-of-5), and he couldn’t make up for it in other areas. Five personal fouls limited his ability to be physical on defense, and overall, it was an underwhelming night.
Alex Len: D
Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -15, 19 MIN
Len’s presence in the frontcourt was minimal, as he finished with just two points and three rebounds in 19 minutes. He struggled to keep up with Milwaukee’s size and athleticism, failing to provide much resistance inside. With the Lakers desperate for big-man production, Len simply didn’t deliver.
Christian Koloko: D
Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 15 MIN
Koloko played 15 minutes but didn’t make much of an impression, finishing with two points, no rebounds, and one assist. He did manage two blocked shots, showing some defensive potential, but his lack of rebounding was concerning. He remains a raw talent who needs to develop more consistency in his game.
Shake Milton: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 4 MIN
Milton saw just four minutes of action and missed both of his shot attempts. He did register a steal, but with limited playing time, it was impossible for him to make an impact. Given the Lakers’ injuries, he may see more minutes in the future, but tonight was a forgettable outing.
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