Antetokounmpo and Bucks pull away from short-handed Lakers for comfortable 118-89 win

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, forward Rui Hachimura, second from left, guard Luka Doncic, second from right, and forward Markieff Morris sit on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks as Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7), center Jaxson Hayes (11) and forward Markieff Morris (88) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin, right, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James, top, falls over Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. as Trent Jr. tries to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) shoots as Milwaukee Bucks guard Stanley Umude (17) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins, right, reaches for a rebound along with Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Cam Reddish (5) shoots as Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr., right, passes the ball as Los Angeles Lakers center Trey Jemison III puts pressure on him during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By DAN GREENSPAN

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 118-89 on Thursday night.

Gary Trent Jr. had 23 points off the bench, Kyle Kuzma added 20 and the Bucks swept the season series with two comfortable wins eight days apart.

Bronny James had 17 points to reach double figures for the first time in 22 NBA games, but the Lakers had their nine-game home winning streak snapped.

Los Angeles was without its top four scorers and five of its top six. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves didn’t play in the second game of a back-to-back because of sprained right ankles, joining starters LeBron James and Rui Hachimura on the injury report. Key reserves Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle) and Jarred Vanderbilt (right groin strain) were also held out.

Milwaukee, which didn’t have Damian Lillard available because of a calf injury, created separation by closing the first quarter on a 20-5 run that proved to be enough the rest of the way.

Takeaways

Bucks: Having lost five of their previous seven, this was a gift Milwaukee couldn’t give away if it hopes to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Lakers: Dalton Knecht (17 points) and Gabe Vincent (9 points) struggled to help make up for so much missing offense, combining to shoot 8 for 26 (30.8%).

Not PARSE.LY: Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Pete Nance defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Bronny James sets new highs in depleted Lakers’ loss to Bucks

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) moves the ball while defended by Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Bucks’ Damian Lillard sidelined with calf injury in game against short-handed Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, greets teammate Austin Reaves before an NBA basketball game with the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves join LeBron James on the sideline with injuries when Lakers host Bucks

Key moment

Los Angeles came up empty on an extended offensive possession in the last two minutes of the first half, and Trent knocked down a 3-pointer on the other end to push Milwaukee’s lead back to 11 at the break.

Key stat

Trent picked up the slack while the rest of the Bucks struggled from 3, going 6 for 10 (60%) as the rest of the team was a lackluster 20% (5 for 25).

Up next

The Bucks visit Sacramento on Saturday, and the Lakers host Chicago on Saturday.

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