D’Angelo Russell orchestrated a stunning comeback for the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring a season-high 44 points, with 21 coming in the fourth quarter, to secure a 123-122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Russell’s go-ahead jumper with 5.9 seconds remaining sealed the Lakers’ win, despite LeBron James’ absence due to a sore left ankle.
Spencer Dinwiddie’s critical block on Damian Lillard’s last-second attempt preserved the victory for the Lakers. James missed his ninth game of the season due to his lingering ankle injury, but Russell’s heroics compensated for his absence.
Russell, with a spectacular performance, tied his career-high with nine 3-pointers and dished out nine assists. His offensive prowess, particularly in crunch time, propelled the Lakers to their fifth win in nine games without James.
“D-Lo just stepped up and won us the game, and obviously with Spence with the defense on that last possession,” said Lakers’ guard Austin Reaves. “Just seeing D-Lo take over the game, I constantly kept telling him in timeouts, ‘Take us home.'”
Reflecting on his standout performance, Russell credited his resilience amidst career challenges and trade rumors, stating, “Public humiliation has done nothing but mold me into the killer that you all see today. I never lack confidence. I never fear confrontation. I want all the smoke.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s triple-double effort of 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists wasn’t enough for the Bucks, who suffered their second consecutive loss. Despite a strong performance, Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers lamented the missed opportunity but emphasized the team’s focus on improvement.
The Bucks took a late lead, but Russell’s clutch plays turned the tide in favor of the Lakers. Anthony Davis contributed 22 points and 13 rebounds despite playing with a left shoulder injury.
The Lakers’ victory came amidst James’ ongoing ankle concerns, while Khris Middleton’s return from injury for the Bucks remains imminent.
