The Milwaukee Bucks simply did not have it on Saturday, and it showed in the lopsided loss at the hands of Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. It was all Lakers from the get-go, with Los Angeles outscoring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee in the first quarter by 12 points and by 19 points in the second quarter.
The one-sided nature of the contest took away much of the hype that was built heading into this marquee matchup, but there was some drama following the final buzzer.
See, the Lakers wanted to keep the game ball and give it to Los Angeles rookie forward Adou Thiero. Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt initially had possession of the leather, but it was later taken from him by crew chief Pat Fraher.
Giannis is a REAL ONE 💯
The Lakers wanted the game ball for Adou Thiero, who scored his first NBA points, but the refs were not allowing it.
Giannis stepped in and secured it for the young fella ❤️ pic.twitter.com/2ABmAjwEc3
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) November 16, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo ends game ball drama with classy gesture
Nov 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) battle for control of the ball during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Just when it looked like Thiero would not have the game ball, Antetokounmpo stepped in and retrieved the ball from a team attendant before giving it to Doncic.
“That shows a lot of class,” Lakers star guard Austin Reaves said of Antetokounmpo, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Antetokounmpo did not really have to do it. For one, he could have just walked to the locker room and let the Lakers, the team that defeated his squad, leave the court with at least some level of frustration. But then again, it is always bigger than basketball for the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, who finished the game with 32 points on a 9-for-15 shooting from the field with 10 rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes of action.
Nov 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Antetokounmpo (34) shoots in front of Los Angeles center Deandre Ayton (5) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at@theotherRobin19 and follow us@WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports,click here!