Doc Rivers and Giannis Antetokounmpo speak on Bucks loss to Warriors
Doc Rivers and Giannis Antetokounmpo speak on the Bucks’ 120-113 loss to the Warriors on Jan. 7, 2025.
LOS ANGELES – The Milwaukee Bucks continue their four-game, nine-day West Coast road trip on Jan. 9 when they face the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Luka Dončić scored 12 points in the third quarter but the Bucks maintained control of the game by taking a 86-77 lead into the fourth. Four different Milwaukee players had reached double figures.
The Bucks led by as many as 11 late in the second quarter before taking a 61-52 lead into halftime. The reserves (matched with one or two starters) started the second quarter strong and Giannis Antetokounmpo (12 points) and Kevin Porter Jr. (12) helped finish it off.
But, Porter left with an apparent injury in the final seconds of the quarter. LeBron James leads all scorers with 13 points.
Milwaukee took a couple of five-point leads before Los Angeles ultimately took a 25-24 lead into the second quarter thanks to a 7-1 closing run over the final three minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored four points while LeBron James had five and Luka Dončić had six. The Bucks were just 3-for-12 from behind the 3-point line.
The Bucks are coming off a disappointing loss in Golden State on Jan. 7, which once again prevented the team from starting a winning streak. Milwaukee (16-21) now looks to get back into the win column against a Los Angeles team that is currently No. 5 in the Western Conference with a 23-12 record.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. Antetokounmpo has remained on a minute restriction since a return from a soleus strain in his right calf on Dec. 27, and he’s been held to about 30-31 minutes in his last two games. That has not stopped him from averaging over 30 points per game, however, which places him in the company of Wilt Chamberlain for one of the more prolific scoring seasons (by minutes played) in league history.
Is LeBron James playing?
It is likely. The league’s all-time leading scorer began the day as questionable to play as he manages arthritis in his left foot and sciatica pain on his right side, but was upgraded to probable later in the afternoon. It would be the second time this season the Bucks have missed James, as he was out with the sciatica pain when his Lakers pounded the Bucks 119-95 at Fiserv Forum on Nov. 15.
Is Luka playing?
Yes, MVP candidate Luka Dončić is available and ready to play in the game. He is leading the league in free throws made and attempts, which has helped him become the league’s leading scorer at 33.7 points per game. Dončić is also averaging 8.8 assists and 8.0 assists per game, though he is shooting just 31.6% from behind the 3-point line.
What time is the Bucks game?
Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Stephen Watson on the call.
Giannis, Luka lead NBA all-star voting
The second round of fan voting for the NBA all-star game was released the week of Jan. 5 and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić remain the leaders of the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively.
Dončić (2,229,811 votes) continues to lead all NBA players in fan voting, with Antetokounmpo not far behind (2,092,284).
The Bucks’ star has been the leading vote-getter among fans in each of the last two seasons.
Fans represent 50% of the vote to determine the five players from each conference honored as starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, with current NBA players and a media panel accounting for 25% each. This year, All-Stars are being selected without regard to position.
Voting concludes on. 14 at 10:59 p.m. CT with the starters being released on Jan. 19. The all-star game is Feb. 15.
Even though the voting is still being conducted by conference, players will not represent the East or West. This season, the format will include two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players. Twenty-four players will be selected, 12 from each conference, but commissioner Adam Silver can fill out the rosters to make sure there are 16 U.S. players and eight international players.
Through the second round of voting, nine international players are in the top 24 of fan votes.
Bucks vs. Lakers part of first Apple Immersive game
Spectrum SportsNet and Apple have partnered to create an alternative broadcast for those who don the head-worn computer Apple Vision Pro. The device, which uses three-dimensional racking and camera passthrough to augment reality for the user, will broadcast the Bucks vs. Lakers game as an Apple Immersive experience.
It is the first time users will be able to watch a game in such a way.
For Bucks fans based in Wisconsin, Apple Vision Pro users with a free NBA ID will have access to full-game replays and highlights in the NBA app as early as 24 hours after the game ends. All Spectrum Internet and TV subscribers outside the Lakers’ broadcast territory can also access full-game replays and highlights via the Spectrum SportsNet app.
The Lakers will be featured in five additional games that can be viewed via the Apple Immersive experience.
Milwaukee Bucks injury report
- Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Myles Turner
Bucks vs. Lakers odds
Los Angeles is a 3.5-point favorite over Milwaukee, with the over/under set at 230.5 points per BetMGM.
