For the first time this season, the Milwaukee Bucks will get a look at the Los Angeles Lakers with Luka Doncic now wearing purple and gold. This is the first time the Bucks are playing the Lakers this season at all, and their season series will be wrapped up a week from today when they travel to LA. Last season, the Lakers swept the season series 2-0 by a combined five points, with their last matchup in Milwaukee going into double overtime.
Where We’re At
The Bucks are going through the worst case scenario beginning this stretch against playoff caliber teams. The run of winning eight of nine has seemingly gone by the wayside, now losing three in a row to the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and in heartbreaking fashion to the Indiana Pacers. Two of their three losses have been by a total of three points (they lost to the Cavs by 12), with Dame’s game winner missing against the Magic to lose by two, and Tyrese Haliburton hitting an and-one three over Giannis Antetokounmpo to lose by one. They’re going to have to right the ship fast, as after they host Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder in another weekend back-to-back, they head on a five-games-in-10-days West Coast roadtrip.
The trade for Luka Doncic was a slam dunk regardless of what happens for the rest of the 2024–25 season, but it has already paid off in a big way. The Lakers have climbed all the way to the two seed, and prior to LeBron James getting hurt in a loss to the Boston Celtics, they had won eight straight games against the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers (twice), and the New York Knicks.
Injury Report
Giannis and Dame are listed once again as probable for tonight’s game with their respective ailments. For the first time in weeks, Pat Connaughton is off the Bucks’ injury report and should be available for tonight. A couple of former second-round picks’ statuses are unknown, with Chris Livingston listed as questionable with a non-Covind illness and Tyler Smith doubtful with back spasms.
While it will be the Bucks’ first time playing the Lakers with Doncic, they will not worry about playing LeBron James after he suffered a left groin strain in that Celtics loss. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, James is back in LA for treatment on his groin. Outside of James, the Lakers will miss Rui Hachiumura (teft patellar tendinopathy), Jaxson Hayes (right knee contusion), and Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery).
Player To Watch
Rookie Dalton Knecht has seemingly turned things back around after rough start post-All-Star break. In his first seven games, he averaged just 4.3 PPG on 33.3% shooting from the field and 31.8% from deep. In his last five, he's found his touch, jumping up to 14.2 PPG, while shooting a scorching 54.9% from the field and 42.4% from three (on 6.6 attempts per game).
How To Watch
TNT at 6:30 p.m. CDT.
Playback Streaming
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Game 65: against the Lakers, the Bucks will...
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