Luka Doncic scores 41 as Lakers rout Bucks to cap 3-2 trip

MILWAUKEE — The stressful trip became even more taxing for the Lakers when two more core players were unable to play in the final leg of a five-game road trip that tested Los Angeles in many ways.

Steady defensive ace Marcus Smart (viral illness) and stout Rui Hachimura (left calf soreness) missed the second night of back-to-back games Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, both sidelined along with LeBron James (sciatica) and Gabe Vincent (sprained left ankle).

That left Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton to lead the rest of the Lakers to the end of the eight-day trip and overcome the dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Doncic, Reaves and Ayton combined for 86 points, and the Lakers opened a 31-point first-half lead that went a long way toward securing a 119-95 victory over the Bucks.

Doncic led the way with 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists, making big shots and getting to the line to put the Bucks back and help the Lakers finish their trip 3-2. Doncic was nine of 19 from the field, including five of 11 from three-point range. He made 18 of 20 free throws.

“I think it’s pretty amazing,” Doncic said. “We played back-to-back. I think me and AR played like 40 minutes yesterday. We had a long flight, we got there at 3 a.m. Everybody’s tired. So just to come out and have 30 minutes at halftime, it’s amazing. It says a lot about the group.”

Reaves had 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds and also hit big shots to stall the Bucks’ comeback, while Ayton had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but his efforts weren’t enough to lift the Bucks, who were also playing a back-to-back.

The Lakers’ lead was cut to 13 in the fourth quarter, but Doncic and Reaves didn’t let the Lakers lose their grip, both drilling three-pointers and making free throws to secure the victory.

Reaves had 17 points in the second half. He made five of seven three-pointers in the final 24 minutes. Doncic had 20 points in the second half and was two of five from three-point range.

“They make the run, we go up 22, they cut it down again,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And then Luka and AR, like they did all night, led us. And like they’ve done all season. Those guys did an incredible job leading our basketball team.”

The Lakers began the trip with a loss in Atlanta to a Hawks team that was missing several starters and key players. Then the Lakers lost to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder by 29, leaving them a stunning 1-2 on the trip.

But the Lakers regained their momentum Friday in New Orleans against the Pelicans, then came out and smoked the Bucks despite their even greater penalty kill.

“To go 3-2 on a trip like this early in the year is good,” Reaves said. “You obviously wish we could have played a little better in Atlanta and OKC, but this is the league and you’re going to have nights like that and you have to learn to move on.

“We had a good win last night and you have to learn to turn the page. … So it’s good to be 3-2 on this trip.”

Redick was asked if Hachimura was injured against the Pelicans.

“I think he’s been having some tightness all week,” Redick said. “With a back-to-back, it’s probably just smart to hold him off tonight. But I don’t think it’ll be a lingering thing.”

Redick had said he expected rookie Adou Thiero to make his debut this weekend, and the 6-foot-8 forward did just that.

When asked what he wanted to see from Thiero, Redick replied: “Very simple: just be a banshee.”

Thiero, out to start the season while recovering from left knee surgery, had four points and an offensive rebound in five minutes, scoring his first NBA basket on a quick dunk off an assist from Bronny James, who started the game.

Lakers forward Adou Thiero drives past the Bucks’ Andre Jackson Jr. during the second half Saturday.

(Morry Gash/Associated Press)

“I actually saw Bronny steal the ball and he was running down the left side of the court and I was like, ‘Let me run as hard as I can and see what happens,'” Thiero said. “He was able to find me and help me get my first bucket. So it was a great feeling. Glad it happened.

After the dunk, the players on the Lakers bench jumped for joy, smiling and laughing. Thiero received the ball after the victory.

“Every time I dunked the ball, I could hear them. So, it was pretty exciting,” Thiero said. “But coming down and seeing everyone flexing and all over the bench, it was just a good feeling for everyone to be happy for me.”