The Los Angeles Lakers did not require LeBron James to win a double-overtime thriller.
Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves rallied the team to a 128-124 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, erasing a 19-point fourth-quarter advantage and forcing the first overtime.
To force the second overtime, Davis had to snuff off Damian Lillard’s potential game-winner.
The victory brings the Lakers’ record to 6-4 this season without James.
In a career-high 52 minutes of play, Davis scored 34 points, 23 rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists, while Reaves had 29 points, 14 rebounds, and ten assists. D’Angelo Russell now has 29 points and 12 assists.
That trio combined to score all but two of the Lakers’ points in the fourth quarter, which saw the Bucks lead 94-75 at one point. Milwaukee had plenty to regret, but Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 1-for-6 performance at the free-throw line stood out as the Lakers gained control in the second overtime period.
Lillard had a poor shooting day, going 9-of-29 from the field (3-of-14 from 3-point range) for 27 points. His only points in the second overtime came on a breakaway slam following a steal.
This isn’t the first time the Lakers have upset the Bucks without James this month; on March 8, they won 123-122 at Crypto.com Arena. That was the game where D’Angelo Russell scored 44 points.
The Lakers’ fourth straight win improves their record to 40-32, placing them in ninth place in the Western Conference and two games behind the Phoenix Suns for eighth.