A night in the city of angels had the Bucks feeling righteous enough for them to grab the first playoff bid of the NBA season with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Touting the NBA’s best record at 48-14, it took just five games following the All-Star break for Milwaukee to grab the first mathematically available spot in the 2019 postseason.
What a way to open March for the team coming off a fantastic February going 7-0 on the road for the entire month.
The fight for the win didn’t come without some scrap. The Bucks uncharacteristically close the first quarter going 3 for 11 on three pointers. The Lakers didn’t cover their end going just 3 for 13. However, it was Lakers forward Brandon Ingram who really pulled momentum LA’s way going 6-for-6 for 12 points in 12 minutes.
The second quarter was a different story. The Lakers overcame as many as 7 down and began to trade ties and lead changes with Milwaukee for the remainder of the quarter. The Bucks putting together a 7 point swing of their own about halfway through the quarter with a big three by Nikola Mirotic immediately followed by a Tony Snell steal to set up a easy Malcolm Brogdon layup. Bledsoe capping off another layup to make it 48-45.
At the half The Lakers put together a surge to put them ahead 65-59. Forward Brandon Ingram at this time still has yet to miss, 8 for 8 from the field totaling 16 points, leading all Lakers scorers. The Bucks failed to score a bucket for three minutes before the half staying stagnant at 57 points which lead to the 6 point deficit at the half.
Entering the third quarter there were already 11 lead changes and 8 ties in the game. That trend didn’t last long as Ingram kept sinking shots going making twelve of his fourteen shots taken. After being down by as much as 12, the Bucks post a run by the help of Brogdon, Bledsoe, and Illysova to eventually take an 83-82 lead capped by a Bledsoe three.
So far the main attractions tonight in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lebron James staying relatively quiet. Giannis posting a 10 point effort but cleaning up the glass with 14 rebounds at the end of three. James with some bigger plays totaling 20 points and 9 rebounds in 30 minutes of play.
A tense fourth quarter opened up with a Laker’s 94-93 lead and the Bucks opened it up a way they are familiar with as Ersan Illyasova hits a quality three to gain the lead. The subsequent sequence by Milwaukee had Giannis throw down an and-1 dunk to try to switch momentum the way of the visitors.
Just when the Bucks started to open up their lead, James and Rojon Rondo hit back-to-back threes with seven minutes left in the game and tie the game 106 all. The two teams trading buckets throughout the fourth quarter. With four minutes left in the game there have been 15 ties and 16 lead changes between the two clubs.
The game kept that pace until a key turnover off a LA inbounds with 1:21 left in the game pass paired with a vital Malcolm Brogdon three to take Milwaukee’s lead to 124-116. It was all capped off with yet another three by Eric Bledsoe justifying that new 4-year contract extension announced earlier before tonight’s tip. It was that shot that evidently became the dagger for the Lakers to make the score 127-119.
The Bucks take home a huge win and a playoff birth with a 131-120 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Up next, Milwaukee in a back to back game at Utah. Coverage begins at 7:30 with Buck Shots on WTMJ.