The Milwaukee Bucks dominated the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers 118-89 on Thursday night, securing their second decisive win over them in just over a week.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 28 points, while Gary Trent Jr. added 23 off the bench to help the Bucks improve to 39-30, maintaining their hold on the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Bronny James scored a career-high 17 points in just his 22nd NBA appearance, marking his first game in double figures. Despite his performance, Los Angeles (43-26) saw its nine-game home winning streak snapped.
The Lakers played without their top four scorers, as LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura were all sidelined. Key reserves Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt also missed the game, leaving Los Angeles heavily short-handed.
Milwaukee, which was without Damian Lillard due to a calf injury, broke the game open with a 20-5 run to close the first quarter. The Bucks never looked back, extending their lead throughout the night.
Trent Jr. provided a major boost from beyond the arc, making six of his 10 three-point attempts, while the rest of the Bucks shot just 20% (5-for-25) from deep.
Dalton Knecht matched Bronny James with 17 points, but Los Angeles struggled to generate consistent offense. Gabe Vincent and Knecht combined to shoot 8-for-26, as the Lakers managed just 41.5% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range.
Milwaukee capitalized on Los Angeles’ struggles with ball security, forcing 19 turnovers while committing only nine themselves. The Bucks also held a 27-10 advantage in free throws attempted, maintaining control on both ends of the floor.
Los Angeles had a chance to cut into the deficit late in the first half but failed to score on an extended possession. Trent Jr. immediately responded with a three-pointer to push the lead back to double digits at halftime.
The Bucks have now won two straight after dropping five of their previous seven games, keeping them in contention for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers will look to regroup as they await the return of their top players, hoping to regain momentum in the Western Conference standings.
