In an entertaining preseason clash, the Lakers faced off against the Bucks without key players like LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt. Despite these notable absences, the Lakers experienced preseason defeat against Bucks. The Lakers put up a determined effort but eventually fell short with a 108-97 loss to the Bucks on Sunday evening.
Lakers Experienced Preseason Defeat Against Bucks
Even in the absence of these pivotal rotation players, the Lakers managed to maintain their competitiveness, showcasing a strong offensive performance early in the preseason game. In the initial six minutes of the first quarter, the Lakers already scored 21 points against the Bucks, who fielded their projected starting lineup, including the preseason debuts of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Anthony Davis, in particular, delivered an outstanding performance, leading the Lakers to an early lead and taking control of the game. Davis displayed his versatility by contributing both on the offensive end and with solid rim protection during his 19 minutes of gameplay, all within the first half.
He made five of his eight field goal attempts, including one three-pointer, and successfully converted all five of his free throws, accumulating a total of 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. Notably, his passing game shone, consistently finding open teammates with skip passes, kick-outs, and high-low passes, exploiting mismatches.
Apart from Davis, D’Angelo Russell had a commendable performance, maintaining his preseason scoring efficiency and displaying active defensive play. Russell scored 11 points, shooting 4-for-8, demonstrating versatility with mid-range jumpers and drives to the rim, effectively countering the Bucks’ high-pressure defense.
With increased time in the frontcourt, Jaxson Hayes continued to impress with his two-way play, making a strong case for a rotational role. Hayes showcased his skills by converting both field goal attempts and all three free throws, securing seven points, six rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, including a highlight-worthy block at the rim to deny a dunk attempt by Bobby Portis.
Despite their efforts, the Bucks ultimately proved too formidable. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge with 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Damian Lillard, although not at his usual shooting efficiency (3-for-10 from the field), managed to score 14 points, primarily through his success at the free-throw line.
The Bucks took a three-point lead into halftime, and after the Lakers turned to their bench players at the start of the third quarter, the Bucks extended their lead, eventually separating from the Lakers’ reserve squads over the remainder of the game.
The Lakers will conclude their preseason with a game against the Suns on Wednesday, looking ahead to their regular season opener in Denver a week later.
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