The Milwaukee Bucks secured a 105–101 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Friday, and later Lakers star guard Luka Doncic took accountability for missed chances, admitting he fell short in crucial moments in the game.
“I think we missed a couple good shots… I fouled, I had six fouls, first time in a long time. So that’s when we can fall on the three-pointer,” said the Lakers guard.
Doncic focused on the closing moments after the Lakers briefly moved ahead, acknowledging that he needed to manage those possessions more effectively. He said his shot felt off throughout the night and admitted he could have created cleaner looks instead of forcing attempts.
Despite a strong start, Doncic said his rhythm faded inside as the game went on. He explained that shots he typically converts, especially short floaters in the paint, did not fall, calling it an unusually poor night by his standards.
“I missed the shots I usually make… those little floaters in the paint… just today it was a terrible day for me,”
Luka Doncic and the Lakers fall short in the clutch against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo sparked the Bucks comeback by taking over defensively, swatting away a layup and then stripping the ball from LeBron James on back to back possessions during the dying moments of the game.
Antetokounmpo closed out Friday’s win over the Lakers with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Kevin Porter Jr. carried the offense down the stretch with 22 points and calmly knocked down four critical free throws, lifting the Bucks to their fifth win in seven games.
The Slovenian star scored 24 points and handed out nine assists, while LeBron James nearly posted a triple double with 26 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Los Angeles stormed back from a double digit hole with a 17–4 surge in the fourth quarter, but Milwaukee shut the door late as Kevin Porter Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo dictated the final possessions.
The Lakers slipped to 23–13, while the Bucks climbed to 17–21 and prepare to face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
