The Los Angeles Lakers on Friday came away with their most impressive victory of the 2022-23 season when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 133-129.
Commanded by Anthony Davis, the Lakers overcame the Bucks and reached their seventh victory in the last nine games.
Davis scored 44 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked three shots, while LeBron James and Russell Westbrook flirted with triple-doubles.
On the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 40 points, seven rebounds and five assists. In turn, Middleton had 17 points still with minutes restriction.
The Californian team competed from the beginning of the game despite the Lakers starting far below the current campaign.
Milwaukee’s biggest advantage in the match came in the first few minutes, when they led by 7-1. Quickly, the Los Angeles team tied at 10-10. After that, Bucks and Lakers exchanged the lead on several occasions.
Already at the beginning of the second quarter, the Lakers came better and opened 41 to 34, after LeBron’s basket. The owners of the house tried to cut, but Los Angeles started to score more easily, while the Bucks couldn’t do the same on the other side. Then, Davis left at 61 to 46. Milwaukee still diminished, but still went to the locker rooms behind by 66 to 58.
On the way back from the break, the Bucks started with a sequence of three baskets, while the Lakers were unable to respond.
The difference fell to two, after a pitch from Brook Lopez and, shortly after, Milwaukee turned 79 to 77. However, Lonnie Walker had eight straight points to retake the lead. The same Walker left at 93 to 83. As much as the hosts pulled over, the Lakers managed to stay ahead.
In the final 12 minutes, Middleton made it three and the difference was reduced to one. However, LeBron, Davis and Westbrook left Los Angeles ahead 114 to 110.
Milwaukee hit two of three in a row and turned 120 to 118. Then, the two teams exchanged the lead twice until James converted two consecutive 3-pointers, leaving the score at 128 to 125. Davis made a dunk, with one minute remaining and the Lakers won by 132 to 127.
