Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview & Game Thread: No rest for the wicked

After a brutal thrashing by the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks are back at home tonight to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second game of a back-to-back. For the Bucks, there is little to build on from last night in New York beyond the games of Nate Ament and Kasparas Jakucionis, who should both see more of the floor after strong performances. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 10-2 and first overall in the Western Conference. This will be the toughest test of the year, and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the Bucks, who are still looking for their second win of the season.

The Task Ahead

There is no gentle way to say this: the Bucks will be outmatched at home unless someone can make a stand in the frontcourt. The Lakers’ offense is relentless and currently the best in the NBA, scoring 122.4 points per 100 possessions. Much of that comes from their two-headed monster in the backcourt: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Reaves, who inked a big extension this off-season, is averaging 25.3/3.4/4.6, and with those numbers, could only be second fiddle to Doncic, who is off to an absolutely torrid pace of 39.3/7.8/7.9 on nearly 68% true shooting. For years, this is what it felt like to run into Giannis, and now the Bucks find themselves on the other end, hoping to make it a game—a task that proved too big in New York.

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As if the dynamic duo in the backcourt wasn’t enough, the Bucks will have their hands full in the paint with Walker Kessler. Kessler is making an early-season push for an All-Defense team as opponents are currently shooting just 47.1% against him at the rim and 41.1% overall. Couple that with 2.5 blocks per game and a double-double average, and you have an elite starting centre (something that feels so distant for Milwaukee). Given how bad the night was in New York, it feels like the only way the Bucks will stand a chance in the frontcourt is with an injection of youth and energy. Kel’el Ware looked more competent on defense and had a couple of close shots roll out, while Nate Ament looks more comfortable by the minute. Despite all this, the Lakers are not exactly running away with games,…


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Publish date : 2026-11-11 14:00:00

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