Lakers Erase 19-Point Deficit To Beat Bucks Without LeBron James: ‘We’re An Unpredictable Team’

The Los Angeles Lakers were down 19 points to the Milwaukee Bucks with 8:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. Playing without NBA legend LeBron James, it appeared the Lakers were on their way to a blowout loss. 

However, behind Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles outscored Milwaukee 27-13 in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.

The Lakers and Bucks each scored 16 points in the first overtime, so the contest went into double overtime. 

In the second overtime, the Lakers outscored the Bucks 11-7 to come away with an incredible victory on the road against one of the top teams in the NBA. 

“I just think we’re an unpredictable team,” Russell said, via ESPN. “So depends on which team you get, depends on which team we are defensively, offensively as a unit. Some guys are better than others [some nights]. Some guys have bad nights. It just depends on what team we’re going to be. When we’re in full effect like tonight — obviously, no Bron — but, I think we’ll be hard to beat.”

Davis put up 34 points, 23 rebounds and four blocks, Russell finished with 29 points and 12 assists and Reaves recorded a triple-double (29 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists). 

The Lakers improved to 40-32 on the season with the win. They are now only two games back of the Phoenix Suns for eighth place in the West. 

“Today, the team relied on me a lot, especially when Bron is out, and I tried to perform,” Davis said. “It was fun. Let’s line up and do it all over again tomorrow.”

“I don’t think there’s a good way to put it in words, just appreciation for what he did tonight,” Reaves said about Davis. “Any time he’s on the court, regardless if he’s making shots, blocking shots, rebounding, his presence is, in my opinion, his biggest strength, Any time he’s on the floor, offensively, you’ve got to account for him. Defensively, same thing, you get into the paint, and there’s nothing easy around there. So just appreciation to him gutting it out. Yeah, he’s an all-pro. Look at the numbers.”