By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo won against Luka Doncic in their first meeting following the Slovenian superstar’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Overcoming a 45-point display by Doncic, the Milwaukee Bucks got a safe separation in the second half to snap a three-game losing streak in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season with a 126-106 victory in Fiserv Forum on Thursday.
Originally listed as probable with a left calf strain, the Greek Freak posted a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double, falling one assist shy of a triple-double. Lasting 30 minutes, he tucked in 8/17 from the field and 8/13 free throws, in addition to one block and one steal.
With LeBron James missing a second consecutive game due to a left groin strain, Doncic was medically cleared to play through right ankle soreness and logged nearly 36 minutes. Connecting 14/27 field goals, including seven three-pointers, he matched his season-high with his best scoring showing as a member of the Lakers.
“Nothing matters if we lose the game,” he stressed in a postgame press conference, “It’s a team sport, and we need to be all together. Whatever somebody does, it is great. But at the end of the day, you got to win. We didn’t do that tonight.”
Grabbing 11 rebounds shaped a double-double for the native of Ljubljana in Milwaukee. He added three assists, two steals, and one block but also committed six turnovers.
Despite the loss against Giannis and the Bucks, Luka was PHENOMENAL!
45 PTS ( MOST AS LAKER)
11 REB
7/13 3PTS
7/14 2PTS
3 AST
2 STL
He joined Kobe Bryant (3x) and LeBron James as the only Lakers in franchise history to record 45+ PTS, 10+ REB, and 5+ 3PM in a game. pic.twitter.com/bJo5JQajkM
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 14, 2025
“We’ll see,” he mentioned about possibly sitting out the bottom end of a back-to-back against the Denver Nuggets and Serbian Nikola Jokic in Ball Arena on Friday, “I don’t know yet.”
In his first start with the Lakers, Ukrainian Alex Len had two points, three rebounds, and one assist in 19 minutes. German Maxi Kleber remained sidelined, recovering from right foot surgery.