Atlanta cut the Lakers’ lead to four with three and a half minutes left Monday. Luka Dončić answered with a driving layup and set up another basket in a 6–0 run. The Lakers have had answers like that throughout their six-game winning streak. When they visit Milwaukee on Wednesday, watch whether the Bucks can score often enough to make Los Angeles need another one.
Milwaukee has more than Dončić to deal with
Dončić had 32 points and 10 assists in the 124–114 win at Atlanta. Walker Kessler scored 21, including three alley-oop dunks off Collin Sexton drives, and Sandro Mamukelashvili made five threes. When a guard gets into the lane, Milwaukee has to pick up the big man rolling to the rim while keeping track of the shooters outside. Atlanta saw how quickly both can become problems.
Los Angeles was favored by 12.5 in the DraftKings snapshot. The Lakers scored at least 116 in each of their six straight wins, and four of those wins still came by 10 or fewer. Our team grades show the same split, with an A-minus on offense and a C-plus on defense. Milwaukee can keep the margin close if it strings together productive possessions. That was hard to do in Tuesday’s 117–85 loss at New York, where a 13-point second quarter left the Bucks chasing the game.
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Milwaukee’s scoring can move the total
The last three Lakers games each reached at least 237 points, above Wednesday’s DraftKings total of 230.5. All three opponents scored at least 114. Milwaukee has scored between 85 and 107 in its last five games, and each finished below its own posted total. The Bucks have also been in a high-scoring game without a big night of their own. They scored 111 when Cleveland put up 136 in Milwaukee at the end of October. Watch whether the Bucks can get to the rim or create open looks before the Lakers’ defense gets set. If those chances are scarce, Los Angeles will have to supply more of the scoring to push the game past 230.5.
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