Los Angeles Lakers they won a match with heart attack ending this Friday before the Milwaukee Bucks (123-122), in which D’Angelo Russell dominated from start to finish, signing 44 points and scoring the last basket of the Angelenos, orphans of a LeBron James injured.
Russell equals the second best scoring mark of his career and signs his best night as a Lakers playercompleting your service record with 9 assists and 6 rebounds. Of his 44 points, He did 21 in the last quarter and in the global statistics he noted 9 triples out of 12 attempts.
The victory sealed it Spencer Dinwiddie in a brilliant defense of Damian Lillard who had the winning shot in his hands in the final seconds but found himself with a plug incontestable.
Los 22 points and 13 rebounds from Anthony Davis They were very creditable since the center had problems with his shoulder at the end of the third quarter, but he returned to the court to help the team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard couldn’t beat the Lakers
Giannis Antetokounmpo sealed his eighth triple-double of the course with 34 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Damian Lillard It took a while to activate but he ended up being fundamental in the Bucks’ chances of winning, contributing with 28 points and 12 assists.
The three-pointers set the pace of the game in the hands of Brook López and Malik Beasley. Both scored 8 points each in the first period and only missed two shots.
They compensated for the mistakes of a Lillard denied from the start, who did not find a hoop from afar despite trying up to four times.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed a new triple double but this time it was not enough for the Bucks.
Jae C. Hong / AP/LaPresse
In LeBron’s absence, it was Davis’ turn to lead becoming owner and lord of the painting, winning the initial battle against Antetokounmpo and anyone who dared to take advantage in his territory.
Thus, with those of Doc Rivers commanding but unable to get more juice than six points away, The first quarter closed with a triple by Russellannouncing what was to come after the horn, which was reached with a tight 27-30.
In just four minutes, Russell put the Lakers into orbit with three three-pointers without a miss, which together with the previous one made it four in a row. The perimeter defense gave the Bucks advantages and the locals took advantage of it.
Darwin Ham I continued betting on the locals for long distance, and it worked. The Lakers closed the second quarter with six goals out of seven attemptsa very unusual effectiveness that allowed them to regain control of the light and score a maximum of 8 points at 51-43.
D’Angelo Russell, figure of the Lakers against the Bucks.
Jae C. Hong / AP/LaPresse
Giannis y Lillard They took responsibility before the break, each one taking advantage on their side of the perimeter. The point guard finally scored and between them they contributed 21 of the Bucks’ 33 points on offense, without complementing him on defense. They went into the break four down: 67-63.
The first of the two triples Lillard In the second period he catapulted him to the fourth place of historic triple jumperssurpassing the Reggie Miller with 2,561 hits in his career.
The Lakers had the game in their hands and in their heads, intimidating with Davis putting a poster block on Giannis when he tried to score from the paint.
The 8-0 run to go nine ahead (81-72) in the middle of the quarter seemed definitive. The timid visitor reaction was psychologically canceled by a Austin Reaves who closed the third quarter in style, stealing Antetokounmpo’s wallet and standing alone at the rim to make it 96-90 with the last chapter remaining.
Bucks vs Lakers: D’Angelo Russell shines in the fourth quarter
The confidence with which Russell played was maximum: He continued shooting from the triple and never made a mistake. The perimeter was his natural habitat, but Milwaukee was beginning to rebel, pulling out all the stops with its two stars and a perfect Pat Connaughton on the outside shot.
He 100-99 with eight minutes left indicated that he had started. Even without Giannis on the court, the Bucks were able to recover and go up six.
With adrenaline through the roof, the punch on the table that seemed definitive was given by Lillard from the perimeter to make a three plus one, taking advantage of a foul in his shot by Russell. The quarter was 13-2 for the visitors.
They answered Rui Hachimura and Russell also from the arch. The point guard wanted to finish the job and with all the possession for them, he did not disappoint: he scored a two-point floater to go 123-122 and allow the Bucks a last attempt of 5.9 seconds.
Lillard played it against a Dinwiddie’s impressive defenseforcing him to look for a forced mid-range shot and putting a incontestable stopper which did not allow more points.