The Los Angeles Lakers had a spectacular night at the Crypto.com Arena, one that sent fans home with memories to cherish. The Milwaukee Bucks were favored to win this game as LeBron James was sidelined due to an ankle injury. However, the Lakers proved they are not what critics claim they are.
DINWIDDIE BLOCKS DAME AT THE BUZZER 😱
LAKERS WIN pic.twitter.com/Ed37aqXo1o
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 9, 2024
Towards the final moments of the game, the Bucks had a four-point lead with less than 30 seconds on the clock. D’Angelo Russell had made two clutch baskets to give the Lakers a one-point lead. However, the Bucks gained the final possession. The ball was inbounded to Damian Lillard but Spencer Dinwiddie had the game-winning block to close out the game 123-122.
Los Angeles Lakers player stats
Overall, it was an extremely close game between the Lakers and the Bucks. There were concerns about the Lakers team being able to secure the win. However, Russell’s offensive prowess stole the show. He finished with 44 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. He also shot 9-12 from the three-point arc.
| Player | Minutes | Points | Assists | Rebounds |
| Rui Hachimura | 38 | 12 | 2 | 5 |
| Spencer Dinwiddie | 34 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Anthony Davis | 41 | 22 | 5 | 13 |
| D’Angelo Russell | 38 | 44 | 9 | 6 |
| Austin Reaves | 37 | 18 | 7 | 5 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 17 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Taurean Prince | 16 | 8 | 1 | 6 |
| Cam Reddish | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Christie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Anthony Davis came back stronger after an underwhelming previous game. He finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists including 3 blocks. Austin Reaves contributed 18 points while Rui Hachimura scored 12 points. They shot 52.2% from the field, 47.1% from deep, and 68.4% from the foul line.
Milwaukee Bucks player stats
In terms of defense, the Bucks were not in their best shape. They only recorded 2 blocks and 3 steals during the game. The Bucks shot 49.5% from the field, 39% from deep, and 82.4% from the free throw line. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double of 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.
| Player | Minutes | Points | Assists | Rebounds |
| Brook Lopez | 32 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
| Damian Lillard | 38 | 28 | 12 | 5 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 39 | 34 | 12 | 14 |
| Malik Beasley | 34 | 14 | 2 | 4 |
| Jae Crowder | 21 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Bobby Portis Jr. | 26 | 14 | 0 | 8 |
| Pat Connaughton | 31 | 17 | 1 | 6 |
| Patrick Beverley | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danilo Gallinari | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Damian Lillard also had a strong night contributing 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists. Malik Beasley scored 14 points while shooting 4-9 from the three-point arc. The bench unit accumulated 31 points in total.
