The Lakers have two of the best clutch players in the NBA in LeBron James and Luka Doncic. They have been the best clutch team in the NBA because their stars have led the way in crunch time. They have won a league-leading 13 games in the clutch this season.
But when the game hung in the balance Friday night, when the Lakers needed James and Doncic to be clutch, neither was able to deliver, their inability to do so leading to L.A.’s 105-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena.
For as much as James did in keeping the Lakers in the game by scoring 13 of his 26 points in the final quarter and by nearly collecting a triple-double with 10 assists and nine rebounds, it was his last-second turnover that doomed them to their first loss in a close game.
For as much as Doncic did in nearly producing a triple-double with 24 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, his poor shooting and foul trouble was costly in the end.
“I’d love to go undefeated in clutch games for a season, but you know, you can’t get too high, can’t get too low on stats like that,” James said. “You just play the game. And they made some plays. Big three by [Myles] Turner by our bench; obviously the free throws down the stretch by KP [Kevin Porter Jr.]. So, we had our chances.”
The score was tied at 101-101 after Jake LaRavia (13 points) drilled a three-pointer off a pass from Doncic with 1:22 left.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, center, makes a backwards pass over Bucks guard AJ Green (20) during the first half Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers never scored again. James missed a driving layup for the lead that was blocked by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Then Doncic fouled Porter on a three with 16.2 seconds left. It was Doncic’s sixth foul.
“We missed a couple of good shots down the stretch. Then I fouled [out]. I had six fouls. First time in a long time,” Doncic said. “So, that’s on me. I can’t foul at that point.”
Porter made two of three free throws for a 103-101 Bucks lead.
Doncic was asked about the foul.
“I don’t think he shoots like that,” Doncic said of Porter’s three-point form, which drew contact and a foul. “The referee said it was a foul. So, I guess it’s a foul.”
Still, the Lakers were down by only two and still had James on the court.
But on his drive to the basket, James had the ball poked away by Antetokounmpo for a turnover with 1.5 seconds left.
“I turned the ball over. You definitely can’t do that at that point and time,” James said. “So, Giannis, he made a great play by getting his arm and tipping it from behind, but can’t turn the ball over — obviously.”
Doncic lamented his poor shooting, which was his worst at home this season.
He made his first two three-pointers but it was all downhill from there. He was eight for 25 from the field and had a plus-minus rating of minus-14.
“Obviously my shot didn’t go well today,” Doncic said. “You know, could get better shots. So, wish I could have executed better than that.”
The Lakers played their fourth game of the week, at times looking sluggish because of the workload.
It was the kind of night in which Doncic picked up his fifth foul with 2.1 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Lakers trailed by as many as 12 in the second quarter, looking a bit slow.
So much — if not all — of the Lakers’ game plan was focused on trying to deal with the nearly unstoppable force that is Antetokounmpo. And much of that job went to Lakers center Deandre Ayton, who the Lakers felt was best equipped to handle the assignment because of his 7-foot size, length and strength.
But it also was going to take the Lakers as a group to slow down Antetokounmpo, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Jarred Vanderbilt gave the Lakers a big effort with nine points and nine rebounds off the bench, and his usual tough defense.
Hachimura update
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura missed his sixth consecutive game because of right calf soreness. Hachimura has been working out and there is some hope that he can play Monday night in Sacramento.
“He’s made a lot of progress just in terms of regaining strength and mobility in his calf and had a good workout today,” coach JJ Redick said. “There’s a lot of optimism that he’ll be available Monday, but we’ll see how the next few days go.”