Lakers Fall in Close One

LOS ANGELES — For the first time this season, the “clutch” magic ran out for the Los Angeles Lakers.

In a heavyweight battle that came down to the final seconds at Crypto.com Arena, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a gritty 105-101 victory, snapping the Lakers’ record-breaking 13-game winning streak in close-game scenarios. While the night marked the highly anticipated return of LeBron James to the lineup, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo who stole the show with two defensive masterclasses in the final minute to seal the win for Milwaukee.

The Battle of the Titans

The game was billed as a showdown between the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and the “Greek Freak,” and it did not disappoint. After missing Wednesday’s loss to the Spurs with foot and sciatica issues, the 41-year-old LeBron James appeared rejuvenated, spearheading a massive 17-4 run in the fourth quarter to erase an 11-point deficit.

James finished with a near triple-double (26 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds), but the younger Antetokounmpo had the final word. With 39 seconds remaining and the Lakers trailing by two, James drove to the rim for what looked like a signature tying layup. Instead, Antetokounmpo met him at the summit, pinning the ball against the glass.

Less than 30 seconds later, with the Lakers having one last chance to tie or win, Giannis poked the ball away from James from behind, leading to a pair of game-clinching free throws by Kevin Porter Jr.

Luka’s Frustrating Night

While LeBron fought father time, Luka Dončić struggled to find his rhythm. The Slovenian superstar, who has been carrying a massive load in James’s absence, finished with 24 points and 9 assists but shot a dismal 8-of-25 from the field.

The dagger for Los Angeles came with 16.2 seconds remaining when Dončić was called for his sixth and final foul on a three-point attempt by Porter Jr. Without their primary playmaker for the final possession, the Lakers’ offense stalled, leading to the decisive turnover.