The Lakers desperately held on to a late lead against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, their primary closer in street clothes with a sore ankle.
They had weathered bulldozing drives from Giannis Antetokounmpo. They’d handled flurries from Damian Lillard. And, on the back of an incredible D’Angelo Russell heater, they were in an every-possession-matters game with the Bucks deep into the fourth.
But Antetokounmpo drilled a jumper. And then Lillard hit a three (and got another point at the foul line), forcing the Lakers to do something they hadn’t needed to do all game.
Without LeBron James, the Lakers were going to have to come back.