In Damian Lillard’s first appearance with the Los Angeles Lakers, the team faced a formidable challenge against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers were dealing with several key players’ absence, including LeBron James and Austin Reaves, which left them lacking the firepower they needed. Consequently, they succumbed to the Bucks, with a final score of 108-97, in a game held at their home court.

 

Despite the adversity, Lakers star Anthony Davis put on a valiant effort. He played for 19 minutes, contributed 16 points, and secured seven rebounds during the game. Another standout performance came from Max Christie, who delivered a solid performance off the bench, tallying 10 points.

 

The Lakers’ starting lineup for this game featured D’Angelo Russell, Taurean Prince, Rui Hachimura, Christian Wood, and Anthony Davis, providing a significant size advantage. This unit held their ground against the Bucks’ starting players and even managed to build an eight-point lead during the opening quarter.

 

During the first half, the Lakers’ reserves, including Cam Reddish, made notable contributions. Jaxson Hayes displayed his defensive prowess with a couple of impressive blocks, Reddish was tenacious on the boards, and Max Christie scored five points by halftime. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo showcased his usual ferocity, aggressively driving to the basket and accumulating 16 points in the first half, while Damian Lillard added 11 points. As a result, the Bucks held a three-point lead at halftime.

 

Anthony Davis’ night ended early in the first half, and the Bucks seized the opportunity to go on a 7-0 run against the Lakers, who had an inexperienced and unfamiliar lineup on the court. Max Christie displayed aggressiveness with several strong drives, indicating his readiness for a promising season.

 

In the closing quarter, the Lakers fielded a lineup that resembled the South Bay Lakers, with Colin Castleton, D’Moi Hodge, Maxwell Lewis, Alex Fudge, and Damion Baugh taking the floor. Unfortunately, this group struggled to score in the early minutes of the fourth quarter, and the Lakers didn’t register a point until the 8:06 mark.

 

Although Colin Castleton delivered a couple of powerful dunks to bring the Lakers within five points, a Cam Payne runner, combined with a Lakers turnover and a Pat Connaughton three-pointer, sealed the final result. This outcome marked the Lakers’ third preseason loss.