> At a Glance
> – Giannis Antetokounmpo stuffed LeBron’s layup and stripped the ball in the final 39 seconds
> – Kevin Porter Jr. hit four clutch free throws after both defensive gems
> – Bucks snap five-game skid vs winning teams dating back to Dec. 11
> – Why it matters: Milwaukee finally beats a quality opponent, showing they can close tight games without Giannis needing to score 30
Giannis Antetokounmpo turned defense into victory Friday night, making two game-saving plays on LeBron James in the final minute to give Milwaukee a 105-101 win over Los Angeles.
The Final Minute
With the score tied at 101, Antetokounmpo rotated over and swatted James’ driving layup. Porter grabbed the rebound, drew a foul, and sank both free throws with 16.2 seconds left.
On the ensuing inbounds, Giannis poked the ball away from James again. Porter corralled it and iced the game from the line with 2 seconds remaining.
Key Performances
Milwaukee:
- Kevin Porter Jr.: 22 points, 4/4 FT in final 40 seconds
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 21 points, season-low since calf injury return
Los Angeles:
- LeBron James: 26 pts, 10 ast, 9 reb, 2 costly turnovers late
- Luka Doncic: 24 pts, 9 ast, 8/25 FG, fouled out on Porter’s 3-pt attempt
Game Flow
Milwaukee led by double digits in the first half despite Giannis on a minutes limit. The Lakers opened the fourth on a 17-4 run, with James’ steal and layup putting them up 88-85.
The Bucks missed nine of their first 12 fourth-quarter shots before Porter’s driving layup tied it at 99 with two minutes left.
Injury Updates
Lakers coach JJ Redick said forward Rui Hachimura (calf) could return early next week after missing six games. Austin Reaves remains sidelined.
Up Next
| Team | Next Game | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bucks | at Denver | Sunday |
| Lakers | at Sacramento | Monday |
Key Takeaways
- Giannis can dominate without scoring-his defense sealed the win
- Porter’s poise under pressure gives Milwaukee another closer
- Lakers fall to 4-6 in their last 10 despite LeBron’s near triple-double
- Milwaukee finally tops a winning team for the first time since December 11
The Bucks improved to 5-2 in their last seven, while the Lakers continue searching for consistency.
