Luka Doncic delivered 41 points and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers closed out a back-to-back set with a 119-95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night at Fiserv Forum.
The Lakers improved to 10-4 behind a dominant first half that set the tone early. Doncic shot nine of 19 from the field, made five 3-pointers and went 18 of 20 at the line while controlling the offense throughout the night.
Austin Reaves added 25 points and eight assists as Los Angeles generated consistent perimeter spacing. Deandre Ayton finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, giving the visitors a steady presence around the basket.
Both teams were coming off NBA Cup victories on Friday, but it was Los Angeles that managed the physical demands of the schedule. The Lakers played without Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and LeBron James, yet built a 30-18 lead after one quarter by forcing Milwaukee into early jump shots.
The advantage grew quickly in the second quarter. Los Angeles stretched the margin to 65-34 at halftime as Milwaukee shot just 24 percent in the first half, including four of 21 from beyond the arc. The Lakers answered with 55 percent shooting and created repeated transition opportunities off defensive rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo produced 32 points and 10 rebounds to keep Milwaukee competitive in stretches. He attacked in the open floor and worked through contact in the paint, but the Bucks struggled to generate rhythm when the Lakers crowded driving lanes and forced kick-outs to contested shooters.
AJ Green sparked Milwaukee’s push in the third quarter with four made threes in the period. The Bucks pieced together a 20-5 run that cut the deficit to 14, but Doncic responded with eight late points to restore a 20-point cushion entering the fourth.
Gary Trent Jr. added 13 points, and Ryan Rollins provided 10, but Milwaukee could not sustain its perimeter surge long enough to challenge in the closing minutes. The Bucks finished 40 percent overall and recorded a season-low 95 points.
Los Angeles relied on balanced spacing to close out the game. Reaves and Ayton combined for nine assists, and the Lakers committed only 15 turnovers while shooting 49 percent on the night.
Milwaukee trimmed the margin to 13 early in the fourth, but the Lakers countered with strong interior play and another scoring burst from Doncic, who controlled late possessions to prevent another Bucks run.
Los Angeles returns home to face Utah on Tuesday night. Milwaukee travels to Cleveland on Monday, looking to rebound from consecutive games with limited offensive rhythm.
