45 Points From Luka Donćić' Can't Save Lakers in 126-106 Loss to Bucks

03/14/25 • 34 min

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers were without LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes as they faced off against the Bucks in Milwaukee, meaning Luka Dončić was going to have to carry the LA for the squad to have any shot at winning.

And for a while he did. Luka was red hot early, putting up 29 points at the half. He got to the line, drilled a bunch of impossible 3's, and would have had a few more dimes if any of his teammates could have hit a shot. But ultimately, the game went as you'd expect, given the size of Milwaukee's frontcourt with Giannis and Brook Lopez. LA, forced to protect the paint, gave up an abundance of wide open triples, while not actually managing to secure the interior, either.

Donćić finished with 45, including some really entertaining buckets, along with 11 rebounds. Austin Reaves broke out of his slump, scoring 28 points on 10-17 shooting to go with eight boards and three dimes. Unfortunately, the rest of the roster only contributed 33 points with Dalton Knecht (10 points) finishing as the only other Laker in double figures.

The result was frustrating, no question, but if we're all being honest, fairly unavoidable, assuming the Bucks showed up to play. (And judging by some reports, they were fired up for a Darvin Ham Revenge Game -- Ham serves as an assistant on Doc Rivers's staff -- so that was unlikely.) It's not just that the Lakers are missing too many good players, though they are, but that they're missing too many of the same kind of good players. The entire starting frontcourt was back in LA rehabbing. It leaves the Lakers too small and talent shy at PF and C to give themselves a reasonable chance to beat good teams.

It's not about effort or execution. The Lakers did better in both categories on Thursday than they did Monday in Brooklyn. Not good enough, obviously, but it is what it is.

So right now, it's a waiting game. James, Hachimura and Hayes are all described as day-to-day, so hopefully they'll be back soon. In the meantime, the Lakers have to navigate a brutal upcoming schedule—they play six times between Friday's game in Denver and a home date against the Bulls on March 22—try to keep themselves squarely in the top 6, and pick up momentum again once everyone is back.

In the interim, there's not a ton to learn.

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It's not about effort or execution. The Lakers did better in both categories on Thursday than they did Monday in Brooklyn. Not good enough, obviously, but it is what it is.

In the interim, there's not a ton to learn.

Your favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Offer valid from 9:00 AM PT through 11:59 PM PT after a 50 point performance in any game during the NBA season on orders placed at participating merchant locations. Valid only in the United States...

Previous Episode

Luka Dončić Questionable as Lakers Start Tough B2B. Plus, LeBron vs. Stephen A.

The Lakers are still banged up. LeBron James is headed back to Los Angeles to keep rehabbing his injured groin (not a bad development, actually, big picture). Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura are out.

Luka Dončić, who was laboring in a big way on Monday in Brooklyn thanks to a sore back, is questionable with a bum ankle. (The one he turned against the Nets.)

So with the Lakers a game behind Denver (Friday's opponent) for the West's #2 seed, but only a game ahead of Houston for the five, this could certainly be a painful couple of days for the Lakers and Lakers fans. There is some good news, though. Dorian Finney-Smith, who missed Monday's game with his own ankle injury, is expected to play. And while the Lakers are missing so much firepower, they don't just need Finney-Smith back for his defensive prowess, though that's obviously important (though even with DFS in the lineup, LA still faces a tough challenge against the length of Milwaukee without LeBron, Rui and Hayes). The team also needs his shooting. Which gets to one of the low-key things that has hurt LA of late: DFS is in a big time slump.

He's shooting 27% from 3-point range in March, after missing 11 of his final 14 attempts in February. Since February 22nd in Denver, DFS has twice finished with two points, twice with three points, but only once has cracked double digits.

Nobody expects Finney-Smith to pump in 25 a night with LeBron on the sidelines. There is, without question, more onus on Donćić and Austin Reaves (who has been bad since missing two games with a calf injury) to pick up more of that slack. Same can be said for offensive-focused players like Dalton Knecht, who will get more playing time. But DFS is a guy who, for the last few years, has reliably averaged between eight and 11 points a night. There's a big difference between 10 and 3. The Lakers need him, and the other role players, to meet their baselines right now. Do better if possible, but at minimum, don't do worse.

The thing about role players is that they tend not to excel when asked to step into something bigger. That's why they're role players. And it's a lot harder to play those roles when star players are out.

But that's the spot the Lakers are in. If they're going to tread water with so much firepower out, everyone has to find ways to get to their averages. A nice end-of-week breakout for DFS would be a great place to start.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LeBron back in LA, Luka questionable, DFS slumping.

SEGMENT 2: Why it hurts when role guys hit the skids.

SEGMENT 3: LeBron vs. Stephen A!

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Next Episode

LAKERS POSTCAST Denver Downs Short Handed Lakers 131-126

Nikola Jokic scored 28 points and Jamal Murray added a clutch three-pointer to go along with his 26 points as the Denver Nuggets downed the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 131-126. The Lakers, who were playing without six of their top eight players, including LeBron James and Luka Doncic, were led by Austin Reeves' 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists. Rookie Dalton Knecht added 32 points in the loss, which was the Lakers' fourth straight. The Lakers will look to get back on the winning side of things Sunday afternoon when they host the Phoenix Suns.

Lakers, LA Lakers, Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Rui, Hachimura Austin Reeves, Dalton Knecht, NBA, Lakers Post cast, JJ Redick, Dave Palet, Lakers vs Nuggets Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets

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