Minus LeBron, D’Angelo Russell’s career-best 44 lifts Lakers

LOS ANGELES — D’Angelo Russell scored 21 of his season-high 44 factors within the fourth quarter and hit a go-ahead jumper with 5.9 seconds to play, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James’ damage absence for a 123-122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday evening.

Spencer Dinwiddie blocked Damian Lillard’s step-back jumper proper earlier than the buzzer to protect a stirring win for the Lakers whereas James sat out to relaxation his sore left ankle, lacking his ninth recreation of the season general because of the persistent damage.

Los Angeles was carried by Russell, who tied his profession excessive with 9 3-pointers whereas additionally handing out 9 assists in a spectacular efficiency. He scored eight factors within the last 1:13 whereas the Lakers rallied from a late deficit and improved to 5-4 with out James.

“D-Lo simply stepped up and received us the sport, and clearly with Spence with the protection on that final possession,” mentioned Austin Reaves, who scored 18 factors for the Lakers. “Simply seeing D-Lo take over the sport, I consistently stored telling him in timeouts, ‘Take us house.'”

Russell once more raised his offensive output when pressured to play with out James or Davis, capturing confidently whereas additionally distributing the ball successfully on offense. Russell was almost as nonchalant afterward about his greatest recreation of the season, however he acknowledged that an NBA profession together with 4 trades and annual commerce rumors swirling round him has honed his focus for robust conditions.

“On the ground, I’ve at all times felt like I used to be able to doing issues, [and] getting sizzling makes it a bit extra thrilling,” Russell mentioned. “Off the ground, clearly you all know what I have been by. Public humiliation has carried out nothing however mould me into the killer that you just all see in the present day. I by no means lack confidence. I by no means concern confrontation. I would like all of the smoke. … I simply really feel assured in what I convey to the basketball recreation, so no matter room I stroll in, I am assured.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 factors, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for Milwaukee. Lillard scored eight of his 28 factors within the fourth quarter, however the Bucks could not dangle on of their second consecutive loss.

“It’s a missed alternative, but when we had received, that does not change something,” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers mentioned. “We’re attempting to go and get higher. I believed we had the sport in our palms, and we let it go. That occurs, and it will occur once more, and we’ll win some the opposite means, too.”

Milwaukee took its first lead since early within the second quarter on Antetokounmpo’s jumper with 2:53 to play. Lillard transformed a four-point play two possessions later, however Russell trimmed the Bucks’ result in one level on a three-point play with 39 seconds left.

Lillard missed a troublesome layup to offer the Lakers an opportunity, and Russell hit a leaning 13-footer with 5.9 seconds to play. Dinwiddie, who was making his first begin for his hometown Lakers, then smothered Lillard’s last shot.

Rivers cited the Bucks’ fourth-quarter efficiency as motive for optimism, even when his crew did not end.

“You wish to win all these video games, however that is the stuff that we’ll preserve doing an increasing number of till it turns into us,” Rivers mentioned. “There was a stretch the place Damian and Giannis had been taking part in a two-man recreation, and it was unstoppable. We wish to encourage that an increasing number of.”

Antetokounmpo had his forty third profession triple-double, his eighth of the season and his first since Jan. 24. Pat Connaughton scored a season-high 17 factors and hit a key 3-pointer down the stretch.

Anthony Davis had 22 factors — simply two within the fourth quarter whereas taking part in with a left shoulder damage — and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who’ve received 11 of 15 as they combat to achieve any floor within the aggressive Western Convention.

Davis mentioned he could not transfer his shoulder after making an attempt to take a cost from Antetokounmpo. He will probably be evaluated Saturday.

James hobbled off the court docket with 4 minutes left within the Lakers’ loss to Sacramento on Wednesday evening with the newest flare-up of an ankle damage that has bothered the main scorer in NBA historical past all through his twenty first season.

Earlier than the sport, Rivers mentioned Khris Middleton is “shut” to getting back from the sprained left ankle that has sidelined him for 13 video games since Feb. 6.