Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers praised Giannis Antetokounmpo’s clutch defensive plays following Friday’s 105–101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
“Obviously late Giannis makes that block on LeBron and the poke away. Just two huge defense plays… it’s why he’s Giannis really,” remarked the Bucks head coach during his post-game interview.
Doc Rivers also commended Kevin Porter Jr. for his offensive contributions, noting how his play made a decisive impact in the clutch. “Some big free throws there from Kevin… Scoot [Kevin Porter Jr.] is extremely high IQ… put high IQ on high IQ, you get no fouls… he did a lot of little things defensively that you wouldn’t see, but he did them,”
Doc Rivers highlights the Bucks’ huge win
Looking back on the victory, Rivers stressed the challenge of winning on the road and the team’s grit. He pointed out that defeating a quality opponent away from home counts no matter who it is and added that after falling behind due to injuries, the Bucks are battling to climb back, making each win vital.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Kevin Porter Jr. added 22 points, including four clutch free throws.
The Bucks held off a late surge from the Lakers despite Los Angeles connecting on 42% of their three-point attempts. LeBron James posted 26 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, and Luka Doncic added 24 points and nine assists but fouled out in the closing seconds.
The Bucks moved to 17–21 and now head to face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, while the Lakers dropped to 23–13 and will return home to face Sacramento on Monday.
