The Lakers left Milwaukee with a win and a whole lot of relief.
Los Angeles beat the Bucks 123-112 on Wednesday to stretch its winning streak to seven and move to 11-2, but the final minutes came with a pair of injury scares that had fans holding their breath. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both exited the game, raising immediate concern about the state of the Lakers’ backcourt.
Reaves was the first to go, leaving in the third quarter with a left heel issue. Doncic then appeared to tweak his ankle late in the fourth, and the Lakers shut him down for the rest of the night after he came out with fewer than four minutes left.
Afterward, JJ Redick delivered the kind of update Lakers fans were hoping for.
“His (Reaves) X-rays were negative,” Redick said. “We will get imaging tomorrow”.
“Luka, I think, is fine, just a light tweak,” Redick added.
That was enough to ease the panic online, where the mood quickly shifted from alarm to gratitude. One fan summed up the reaction simply: “Atleast they got 3 days off,” @womanizerking said.
Even with the late scare, Doncic had already done plenty of damage before exiting. He finished with 32 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Reaves, despite leaving earlier than expected, still put up 18 points and five assists.
Doncic also addressed the ankle issue after the game, and he didn’t sound overly concerned.
“I’m good. Obviously, it’s painful a little bit, but I’ll be fine,” Doncic said. “We got 3-0 on the road trip, so that’s very good.”
That road swing has been a clean one for the Lakers. With wins over the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Bucks, they’re 3-0 on the trip and will next face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
After that, they return home for a four-game homestand beginning Nov. 17.
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There was at least some immediate relief after the final buzzer, with head coach JJ Redick easing concern around Reaves injury. Doncic also downplayed his ankle issue afterward, which should help calm nerves heading into a few days off. The Lakers now have three days before they meet the Suns, giving the team a little breathing room before the next test and a chance to see how both players respond. [Read more 🡒]