Bucks down LeBron-less Lakers for 9th straight victory

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 38 points and 10 rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 115-106 for their ninth consecutive win on Thursday night.

Winning Time. pic.twitter.com/haBK7ESAUf

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 10, 2023

Lakers superstar LeBron James, who passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on Tuesday night, sat out to rest his sore left ankle and foot, missing his 12th game of the season.

The Bucks still trail by 11 in a tepid first half and never pulled away from the Lakers with only nine players in uniform, but Antetokounmpo racked up 23 points in the second half.

Khris Middleton poured in 22 points and Jrue Holiday scored 18 for the Bucks, who matched their longest winning streak since their 9-0 start to this season.

Milwaukee added veteran Jae Crowder to its talented core at the trade deadline.

Welcome home, @CJC9BOSS!! https://t.co/lmyGD3yB52 pic.twitter.com/r8xI7pXTHF

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— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 10, 2023

Dennis Schröder had 25 points and 12 assists in a standout performance at point guard for the Lakers, who had only four reserves after their flurry of trades in the past two days.