The Los Angeles Lakers started out slow against the Milwaukee Bucks but turned it around in the second half, erasing a big lead to secure a massive win in a tight Western Conference on the first night of a back-to-back.
Lakers Comeback After Big First Half Deficit
At Halftime, the Bucks were up 58-42, having dominated the first half. However, Los Angeles opened the second half on a 13-5 run to trim the deficit to just eight points, putting themselves in position to make it a game. And that they did, outscoring the Bucks 59-43 over the final two quarters while holding the Bucks to just 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Giannis was NOT called for a travel on this play.
You agree? 👀 pic.twitter.com/EzAy4yqt3P
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 27, 2024
The Lakers were fuming after Giannis Antetokounmpo drew a foul with under three seconds left, arguing that Giannis had traveled. LeBron James even went out to halfcourt during the Bucks’ timeout to speak with the officials. After Austin Reaves’ 3-point attempt banked out at the buzzer, Los Angeles and Milwaukee are headed to overtime at 101-101.
Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks Head to Overtime
DINWIDDIE GIVES LAKERS THEIR FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME 🚨
They were down 16 in the 4Q 🤯
2 minutes left in overtime on TNT. pic.twitter.com/TJTLj05V05
— NBA (@NBA) March 27, 2024
Late in overtime, Anthony Davis and Spencer Dinwiddie hit back-to-back 3s, giving the Lakers the lead at 111-108 with just over two minutes left. Former Los Angeles Laker Malik Beasley hit a big three to tie the game up. After a back-and-forth first overtime, D’Angelo Russell made two clutch free throws for Los Angeles to tie the game at 117-117 with just three seconds left. Russell had a near triple-double with 29 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds. After the Bucks timeout, Anthony Davis blocked Damian Lillard’s floater in the final seconds, leading to a second overtime on the night.
This is art. pic.twitter.com/0rh5ytrfqG
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 27, 2024
Davis Block Sends Game to Double Overtime
REAVES CLUTCH 3 😱
LAKERS BEAT BUCKS IN 2OT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tY6jbUiUfi
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 27, 2024
Neither team scored through the first two and a half minutes of the second overtime period, with players looking visibly gassed and playing sloppy and stagnant on offense. Things turned around after a huge three from Austin Reaves, giving the Lakers a 124-121 lead with just under 40 seconds left. Austin Reaves had his second triple-double of his career, finishing the night with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists.
LEBRON COUNTING DURING GIANNIS FTS 😅 pic.twitter.com/pWDOq1A4Nf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 27, 2024
Giannis also had a triple-double on the night, with 27 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists, but he missed two massive free throws with under 25 seconds to go. After the miss, the Los Angeles Lakers collected their 69th rebound of the night, the most in a game for the Lakers since November 1993 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Lakers Seal the Game in Double Overtime Behind Historic Rebounding
LAKERS COME BACK FROM DOWN 19 IN THE FOURTH TO WIN IN 2OT 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/G5KNj4DMuE
— ESPN (@espn) March 27, 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-124 in double overtime without LeBron, improving to 6-4 without James in the lineup this season. Rui Hachimura had a double-double with a season-high 14 rebounds and 16 points on the night. Anthony Davis had a dominant game with 34 points, 23 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals on the defensive end.
Built different. pic.twitter.com/jvfWuJ32qk
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 27, 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham came into the postgame press conference smiling, saying, “How ’bout them Lakers?” Ham said this game was “definitely” a top-five win of the Lakers’ season and “might be a top-three win.”
"There's two things you can do: you can fold and go to Memphis tomorrow, or you can man up and face the challenge head-on." Austin Reaves (29 pts, 14 reb, 10 ast) with @LakersReporter on the #Lakers' fourth-quarter comeback. pic.twitter.com/MEdaG8XTJz
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 27, 2024
After tonight’s massive win, the ninth-seeded Lakers improved to 40-32 and are currently holding the head-to-head tiebreaker, only two games behind the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns. The Lakers should have an easier matchup tomorrow against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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