LOS ANGELES â€" D'Angelo Russell scored 21 of his season-high 44 points in the fourth quarter and hit a go-ahead jumper with 5.9 seconds to play, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James' injury absence for a 123-122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.
Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell celebrates his basket against the Bucks during the second half Friday in Los Angeles.
JAE C. HONG, ASSOCIATED PRESSSpencer Dinwiddie blocked Damian Lillard's step-back jumper right before the buzzer to preserve a stirring win for the Lakers while James sat out to rest his sore left ankle, missing his ninth game of the season overall due to the persistent injury.
They were carried by Russell, who tied his career high with nine 3-pointers while also handing out nine assists in a spectacular performance. He scored eight points in the final 1:13 while the Lakers rallied from a late deficit.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Lillard scored eight of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks couldn't hang on in their second consecutive loss.
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Milwaukee took its first lead since early in the second quarter on Antetokounmpo’s jumper with 2:53 to play. Lillard converted a four-point play two possessions later, but Russell trimmed the Bucks' lead to one point on a three-point play with 39 seconds left.
Lillard missed a tough layup to give the Lakers a chance, and Russell hit a leaning 13-footer with 5.9 seconds to play. Dinwiddie, who was making his first start for his hometown Lakers, then smothered Lillard's final shot.
Antetokounmpo had his 43rd career triple-double, his eighth of the season and his first since Jan. 24. Pat Connaughton scored a season-high 17 points and hit a key 3-pointer down the stretch.
Anthony Davis had 22 points â€" just two in the fourth quarter and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won 11 of 15 as they fight to gain any ground in the competitive Western Conference.
James hobbled off the court with four minutes left in the Lakers’ loss to Sacramento on Wednesday night with the latest flare-up of an ankle injury that has bothered the leading scorer in NBA history throughout his 21st season. Coach Darvin Ham said the Lakers don’t consider the injury to be season-threatening, even though James also missed two games around the All-Star break.
Russell again raised his offensive output when forced to play without James or Davis, shooting confidently while also distributing the ball effectively on offense. He hit four 3-pointers while staking the Lakers to a halftime lead, and they stayed in front throughout the second half until Antetokounmpo and Lillard took over.
Austin Reaves had 18 points for the Lakers.
Before the game, Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said Khris Middleton is “close†to returning from the sprained left ankle that has sidelined him for 13 games since Feb. 6. Rivers didn't dismiss the possibility of Middleton playing against the Clippers on Sunday.
“He could be,†Rivers said. “I don't know. He's going to go hard (in practice Saturday). I'm (feeling) he'll be back sooner than later, whatever that means to you.â€
Milwaukee 30 33 27 32 â€"122
L.A. Lakers 27 40 29 27 â€" 125
MILWAUKEE â€" Crowder 1-5 2-2 4, G.Antetokounmpo 14-23 5-7 34, Lopez 4-6 0-0 11, Beasley 5-12 0-0 14, Lillard 10-23 4-4 28, Gallinari 0-1 0-0 0, Portis 6-13 2-2 14, Beverley 0-3 0-0 0, Connaughton 6-7 1-2 17. Totals 46-93 14-17 122.
L.A. LAKERS â€" Dinwiddie 1-3 2-2 5, Hachimura 5-16 1-2 12, Davis 10-21 2-2 22, Reaves 7-12 2-4 18, Russell 17-25 1-1 44, Prince 3-7 0-0 8, Hayes 2-2 4-6 10, Reddish 2-4 1-2 6, Christie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 47-90 13-19 125.
3-point goals â€" M 16-41 (Connaughton 4-5, Beasley 4-9, Lillard 4-12, Lopez 3-3, G.Antetokounmpo 1-3, Gallinari 0-1, Beverley 0-2, Crowder 0-2, Portis 0-4), L 16-34 (Russell 9-12, Prince 2-5, Reaves 2-5, Dinwiddie 1-2, Reddish 1-3, Hachimura 1-6, Davis 0-1).Rebounds â€" M 43 (G.Antetokounmpo 14), L 38 (Davis 13). Assists â€" M 28 (G.Antetokounmpo, Lillard 12), L 28 (Russell 10). Total fouls â€" M 17, L 16. Att. â€" 18,997.
LeBron James’ 5 best moments against the Milwaukee Bucks LeBron James’ 5 best moments against the Milwaukee BucksWhen it comes to the NBA’s all-time scoring list, No. 6 now stands alone at No. 1.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James surpassed Hall-of-Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38-year-old record after scoring 38 points in a 133-130 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
James eclipsed Abdul-Jabbar’s storied mark of 38,387 with a 14-foot fadeaway with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The game was halted immediately to celebrate the milestone, including a ceremony featuring James alongside Abdul-Jabbar and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
The 38-year-old James is currently averaging 30.2 points per game in his 20th season. Across his two decades of dominance, the four-time Finals MVP has scored more points against his next opponent than any other foe.
James has amassed 1,751 career points against the Milwaukee Bucks, who visit Crypto.com Arena at 10 p.m. Thursday. James’ dominance also extends to the standings, as he sports a stellar 43-18 record against the Bucks.
Dating back to his time in the Eastern Conference as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat as well as now with the Lakers, James has tormented the Bucks with some epic performances.
Here’s James’ five best moments against the Bucks.
Dec. 10, 2005: First-half eruption in 52-point performanceSpanning his two stints with the Cavaliers, James spent 11 seasons in the Central Division against the Bucks.
In his third season, the legend of King James swiftly began to disperse across the league. It was in the 2005-06 campaign that James embarked on an astounding playoff streak that lasted until his first season with the Lakers in 2018-19.
On the way to his first playoff berth, a 20-year-old James erupted for 52 points in a 111-106 loss to the host Bucks. James tallied 31 of his points in the first half and finished 5 for 9 on 3-pointers. James also added seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Yet, the young James wasn’t satisfied with the second game with at least 50 points of his career as he strived for collective greatness.
"I don't want to score 50 again for the rest of my career because I am now 0-2 when I score 50," James said jokingly. "I don't look at it as me playing well. It's the fact that we didn't get a win and that's all I care for."
Feb. 20, 2009: Double nickel with change to spareCleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, second left, takes a hook shot against the Milwaukee Bucks Feb 20, 2009, in Milwaukee.
Darren Hauck, Associated Press ArchivesTwo years prior on Jan. 5, 2007, the Bucks held James to a mind-boggling eight points, which still stands as the last time he’s scored under double digits.
This time, James was en route to his first MVP and torched the Bucks with 55 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the Cavaliers’ 111-103 victory in Milwaukee. James racked up 16 points in under three minutes to begin the third quarter after trailing at halftime.
He was 8 for 11 from the 3-point line to the astonishment of even his teammates.
"It was almost like watching a video game," Zydrunas Ilgauskas said afterwards.
Bucks swingman Keith Bogans articulated the conundrum of a torrid James from long range.
"You have a hand in his face and he's shooting the ball two steps behind the 3-point line," Bogans said. "I mean, what can you do about that?"
Dec. 6, 2010: The defining image of the Big 3 eraMiami Heat's Dwyane Wade, right, reacts as teammate LeBron James goes up for a dunk against the Milwaukee Bucks Dec. 6, 2010, in Milwaukee.
Morry Gash, Associated Press ArchivesOn a winter night during Year 1 of the Heat’s much-dissected Big 3, James and Dwyane Wade heated up the Bucks’ hardwood with what many consider as one of most iconic photos in the history of the league.
As James rises for his crushing one-handed dunk early in the first quarter, Wade confidently struts forward with his back turned from the action and his arms spread out after dishing the dime.
Poetry in motion. A dazzling visual worthy of placement in the most revered art galleries.
What many fail to remember due to the viral image being more distributed than the highlight is that this actually wasn’t a lob from Wade to James â€" although that ended up being their signature combination. Instead, James’ fastbreak tomahawk jam was delivered on a no-look bounce pass from Wade.
James finished with a modest-by-his-standards 17 points, six assists, and six rebounds in the Heat’s 88-78 victory.
However, the spectacular play encapsulates James’ brilliant four seasons in Miami, which resulted in back-to-back championships and four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
April 21-28, 2013: The sweepMiami Heat's LeBron James dunks against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoff series April. 28, 2013, in Milwaukee. Giving chase are Bucks' Brandon Jennings (3), Ersan Ilyasova (7), of Turkey, and Heat's Shane Battier. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
JEFFREY PHELPS, Associated Press ArchivesJames dusted off the broomstick for his lone playoff series against the Bucks.
Guard Brandon Jennings infamously predicted “Bucks in six†but the No. 1 seed Heat swept the No. 8 seed Bucks in the first round of the 2013 playoffs.
At the peak of his physical powers while playing alongside his most talented cast to date, James averaged 24.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists as the Heat cruised in all four games by double figures.
With Wade missing only his second career playoff game because of his right knee, James carried the load in Game 4 with 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
This marked the first sweep for the Heat’s Big 3 in Year 3 of the trio.
"It was our next big step as far as our growth," James said. "It's so hard to win on the road in the playoffs, in someone's building â€" especially when someone is playing for their last life. It's a big step for us."
With a second straight season of winning MVP and Finals MVP, James spearheaded a 66-win campaign and the second longest winning streak in league history (27).
March 19, 2018: Triple-double tear ensuesMilwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, knocks the ball loose from Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James March 19, 2018, in Cleveland.
Tony Dejak, Associated Press ArchivesNo coach, no problem.
Despite Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue missing the game due to a leave of absence for health issues, James posted his third triple-double in four contests during a 124-117 victory in Cleveland.
James finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a duel against Giannis Antetokounmpo, who countered with 37 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
James scored 17 points in the third quarter, including a powerful dunk that energized the home crowd.
On most nights, Antetokounmpo’s totals would amount to a victory. Instead, it led to some deep introspection and reverence for James, who guided the Cavaliers to their first championship in 2016.
Antetokounmpo’s reign atop the sport would follow three years later in the form of capturing an NBA Finals MVP, but for now, it was time to pay homage.
"I was talking to myself (while) taking a shower, asking what I did wrong because he was the first player to score 40 on me," Antetokounmpo said. "He's the best player in the world."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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