LeBron-less Lakers rally from 19 down to beat Bucks in double-OT
MILWAUKEE — For most of the season, the Lakers have fared well offensively when star forward LeBron James hasn’t been available.
That wasn’t the case for most of Tuesday night’s 128-124 double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
But when they needed it most, the Lakers got the biggest shot of the night to fall, with Austin Reaves making a 3-pointer with 39 seconds left to give his team a 124-121 lead and the separation needed to start this six-game trip with a victory.
“This is the stuff you dream about as a kid, being on the road with your guys, battling out an amazing team and having opportunities to make big shots,” Reaves said. “That’s what I’ve grown up living to do … in those moments, yeah, I’m out of breath but adrenaline is running so fast, you kinda don’t feel it.”
Reaves – who had a 29-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in 48 minutes – also grabbed the defensive rebound after Giannis Antetokounmpo (who also had a triple-double) missed a pair of free throws with 24.2 seconds left. D’Angelo Russell (29 points, 12 assists in 50 minutes) made two free throws to give the Lakers a 126-121 lead with 15 seconds left.
With the Bucks intentionally fouling after a Malik Beasley 3-pointer, Anthony Davis (34 points, 23 rebounds and four blocked shots in 52 minutes) sealed the victory with a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds left.
“That was huge, huge win for the team,” Russell said. “Everybody pitched in. [Coach] Darvin [Ham] was amazing. He drew some great sets for us at the end of the game and gave us some good looks. Everybody was two feet in on that game, wanted to do whatever it took.”
The Lakers (40-32) spent most of the evening trying to battle back from their early offensive struggles, scoring just 16 first-quarter and 42 first-half points, leading to a 16-point deficit at halftime and an 88-74 deficit at the end of the third quarter that turned into a 94-75 Bucks advantage with more than eight minutes left in the fourth.
“It was one of those moments that you could either flip the page to tomorrow, get ready for that game or you could go out and compete 110% and give yourself an opportunity or at least try to give yourself an opportunity to get back in the game,” Reaves said.
But the Lakers kept battling from there, immediately going on a 7-0 run before trimming their deficit to two (101-99) after a Reaves pull-up 3-pointer.
“Coach always gives us like the first five to six minutes to try to cut the lead down,” Davis said. “We did that. And from that point, we had the momentum. We just kept chipping away. Just kept getting stops. Kept making shots on the other end. And making plays.”
After getting fouled on a drive to the basket, Taurean Prince made two free throws to tie the score at 101-all with 43.9 seconds left in regulation.
Reaves, who scored 16 of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime, got the defensive stop against Khris Middleton on the Bucks’ ensuing possession, giving the Lakers the chance to take their first lead of the game in the closing seconds. But Malik Beasley blocked Russell on the Lakers’ next possession. The Lakers were originally awarded possession, but Milwaukee (46-26) won the challenge, getting the ball back with 13.2 seconds left.
The Bucks tried to lob an alley-oop to Antetokounmpo off an out-of-bounds play with 2.5 seconds left, but the Lakers got the stop. Reaves missed a wide-open 3-point attempt at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.
Spencer Dinwiddie, who struggled with his shot most of Tuesday, hit a pull-up 3-pointer for his lone basket (1-for-8 shooting), giving the Lakers a 111-108 advantage with 2:19 left in overtime – their first lead of the night.
“Spence had a rough shooting night,” Ham said, “but the one shot he made was a huge 3-point shot.”
A couple of possessions later, Antetokounmpo back-tapped an offensive rebound to Beasley, who made a 3-pointer to tie the score again at 111-all.
Davis, who was battling left knee pain for significant stretches, blocked a Lillard floater at the end of the first overtime to send the game into double-OT tied at 117.
“He’s done it time and time again,” Ham said of Davis. “Even him going through some extreme pain. He takes great pride in being the captain of our defense. One of our most dependable palyers. Been playing at an extremely high level this year in particular, and especially on that end of the floor.
“We’ve seen him do it against different guys. And [Tuesday] it was on full display. Just his ability to stay down, show his hands and not foul. So it doesn’t surprise me at all. That’s just who he is.”
Neither team scored in the first three minutes of the second overtime, showing the wear and tear of an exhausting game with sloppy offense from both teams.
Lillard and Reaves exchanged layups for each team’s first baskets of the second overtime, with the score again tied at 121-all with 1:17 left after Dinwiddie made a pair of free throws.
Rui Hachimura added 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who won’t have much time to celebrate their stunning comeback. They’re playing again Wednesday night at Memphis.
“Guys are going to be gassed when you go into two overtimes, it’s a 58-minute game,” Davis said. “It was fun. Let’s line up and do it all over again [Wednesday].”
Antetokounmpo finished with 29 points, a season-high 21 rebounds and 11 assists. Lillard had 27 points and Beasley added 21 for the Bucks, who ended up on the wrong end of the Lakers’ latest comeback win.
“A 20-point lead in this league now, it’s nothing because of the way the offense is right now in the league, so high-powered that you can wipe away a lead pretty fast,” Davis said.
James wasn’t available because of the left ankle peroneal tendinopathy that he’s dealt with for the past few months for his 10th absence this season.
TNT sideline reporter Chris Haynes reported that James texted him explaining how he’s managing the injury, reporting that James is expected to be available against the Grizzlies.
“I have to be very strategic and smart of how I manage the rest of the season with my ankle/foot in order to get to the finish line,” Haynes relayed on the broadcast. “Whatever line that lies ahead.”
The Lakers overcame a 19-point deficit in a THRILLING double-overtime win in Milwaukee.
Peep the best plays from down the stretch pic.twitter.com/kLSZSoKMnF
— NBA (@NBA) March 27, 2024
Austin Reaves tonight…
Triple-double with 29p, 14r, 10a
16p in 4Q and both OTs
Eventual game-winner in 2OTHe hit clutch bucket after clutch bucket to lead a 19-point comeback for the @Lakers 4th straight win! pic.twitter.com/YJAiu2S7Fe
— NBA (@NBA) March 27, 2024