The Lakers used a big run in the third quarter to blow out the Bucks on Wednesday, 123-112.
LA led for most of the game, but the Bucks remained feisty for much of the contest. It wasn’t until the third quarter when the Lakers blew the game open and fully took control.
Milwaukee showed how woeful they are, turning the ball over 19 times, leading to 28 points. LA’s bench was strong again, scoring 55 points.
The concern coming out of the game was a variety of injuries. Austin Reaves left in the third quarter
with a heel injury and Collin Sexton took a blow to the face. Luka Dončić twisted his ankle after a hard closeout and left the game after shooting the subsequent free throw.
Brayden Burries gave the Bucks an early lead, but Luka and Austin started to cook, scoring a combined 14 points to put Los Angeles ahead. The Lakers were on a 12-0 scoring run.
Luka continued his dominant play and, as we are used to seeing every game, was already in double figures with 14 points.
Kyle Kuzma and Tyler Herro added 12 points to help keep Milwaukee close. The Lakers were up six with 3:27 left.
LA allowed Jaime Jacquez Jr. to start heating up. He scored eight points that cut Los Angeles’ lead down to two at the end of the first.
Walker Kessler got on the board early in the second period with a layup for LA. Sandro Mamukelashvili picked up right where he left off last game, providing an excellent spark off the bench with five points. Collin Sexton also pitched in with four points.
The Bucks were sticking around, though, cutting a 10-point Lakers lead to four, led by Jacquez Jr and Herro.
Milwaukee was playing scrappy and keeping pace with LA. The Bucks were shooting 50% from the field and Los Angeles was at 42%.
The Lakers offense woke back up as they went on a quick 7-0 run on the shoulders of Sexton and Luka.
Milwaukee was on a three-minute scoring drought until Herro scored. It seemed the Bucks were inching closer again, but Mamu and Reaves combined for nine points to help give the purple and gold an 11-point lead at halftime.
Reaves drained a triple to start the third period for Los Angeles. Luka also knocked down one of his own. Burries scored on a triple for the Bucks. LA kept their double-digit lead, despite shooting 3-9 in the quarter.
Los Angeles then blew the game open, extending its lead to 17 as Thybulle and Kessler combined for five points.
The concerning moment came in the middle of the middle of the quarter when Austin suffered his heel injury on his landing after attempting a dunk. He left shortly after and did not return.
The rest of the quarter was Mamu continuing his incredible play off the bench, pushing his point total to 21 for the night. Luka ended the third by converting on a three-point play that gave the purple and gold a 21-point lead.
LA maintained their big lead well into the final frame. Mamu, Kessler, Williams and Sexton each contributed offensively. Herro and Jacquez hadn’t scored a field goal, but converted on six free throws.
Sexton suffered his injury in the final frame, taking a shot to the face while on defense and being forced to leave with an apparent cut.
At the 5:30 mark, Los Angeles was up 22.
Luka had scored six points before being subbed out after appearing to injure his ankle. The Lakers then subbed in their bench at the 4:25 mark.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 32 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Reaves ended with 18 points and five assists before leaving with an injury. Kessler logged 10 points with 11 rebounds and three assists.
Mamu pitched in with 23 points off the bench. Sexton had 10 points. Thybulle scored eight points with five rebounds. Ziaire Williams and Jarred Vanderbilt combined for 13 points and six assists.
The Lakers’ next game will be against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at 1:00 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
