MILWAUKEE — The Los Angeles Lakers nabbed their 10th win of the season following a near-perfect team win against the Bucks, dropping Milwaukee 119-95 on Saturday behind another 40-point game from Luka Dončić.
The Lakers finished 3-2 in their five-game road trip and stand with a 10-4 record for fourth in the Western Conference. With the momentum high and LeBron James set to make his return from injury soon, they are now set to play five of their next six games at home.
"To go 3-2 on a trip like this early in the year is good," Austin Reaves said, who finished the game with 25 points in the win. "You wish you played a little better against Atlanta and OKC... you're going to have nights like that and you have to learn to move on."
The Lakers found a way to get it done at the Fiserv Forum with two starters out of the lineup, a game that was lifted behind a perfect first half that had them up 31 points at halftime.
Luka Dončić was the catalyst of the Lakers, notching his fourth 40-point game of the season and 50th of his career. After 21 points in the first half, Dončić poured in 15 points in the third quarter to help the Lakers stay at bay from a charging, new-life Bucks team.
Milwaukee went on to outscore the Lakers 38-27 in the third, but Dončić, who finished with 41 points (nine rebounds, six assists), and Reaves took over.
Dončić's stellar third quarter was followed by a heater fourth quarter from Reaves. With Dončić on the bench, he stopped any chance left of a comeback for the Bucks, hitting three big-time 3s whenMilwaukee tried to inch closer.
"Luka and AR, like they did all night, just led us, like they've done all season. Those guys have done an amazing job of leading our basketball team," coach JJ Redick said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo still put up a big performance against the Lakers, willing his way to the foul line throughout the game, scoring 13 of his 31 points from the charity stripe.
Rookie Adou Thiero made his NBA debut in the win, showing burst and, more importantly, athleticism—a trait the Lakers desperately lack—in his four minutes of action.
He scored his first point at the free throw line and then dunked for his first field goal on a dish from Bronny James—who also got the second start of his career.
A little drama unfolded after the game with multiple Lakers, including Reaves, Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt, who were all trying to get the game ball to give to Thiero. But one of the game officials wasn't having it, pleading back and forth with them, grabbing the ball from Vanderbilt, who kept him from taking it from him.
Eventually the ref got the game ball and gave it to someone on the Bucks equipment staff. As he handed the ball to the staffer, Antetokounmpo came in and got the ball and handed it to the Lakers.
Right after, Dončić spoke to Mike Trudell and confirmed the back-and-forth with the official and gave his admiration to Antetokounmpo for getting them the ball.
Here's how it went down:
— Carlos Yakimowich (@CarlosYakJr) November 16, 2025
Glad the #Lakers were able to get the ball for the rookie, and much respect to Giannis for giving it to them. https://t.co/8V92XkL51u pic.twitter.com/dPyzUcByI7
“I am very thankful for this team. I think that shows how connected we are and how much we want each other to succeed," Thiero said on the altercation of his teammates securing the ball.
The Lakers will have the next two days off before their next matchup, which will be at home on Tuesday against the Jazz. This will be the first of two straight games versus Utah.