In a thrilling showdown on Friday night, D’Angelo Russell showcased his prowess by scoring 21 of his season-best 44 points in the final quarter, including a clutch go-ahead jumper with merely 5.9 seconds remaining, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 123-122 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Despite LeBron James being sidelined due to a lingering left ankle injury, missing his ninth game of the season, the Lakers found resilience in Russell’s remarkable performance. Russell, equalling his career-best mark with nine successful 3-pointers, also contributed nine assists in a dazzling display. His eight points in the last 1:13 proved crucial as the Lakers staged a late comeback.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo notched a triple-double with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists for the Bucks, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory. Spencer Dinwiddie, making his first start for the Lakers, made a decisive defensive play by blocking Damian Lillard’s potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The seesaw battle saw Milwaukee briefly take the lead in the final minutes before Russell’s heroics swung the momentum back in favor of the Lakers. Anthony Davis contributed 22 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, who continue to battle in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.
Despite concerns over James’ recurring ankle issue, Lakers coach Darvin Ham remains optimistic that the injury won’t jeopardize the remainder of the season, although the absence of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is felt deeply by the team.