Lakers at Bucks
LeBron James is suffering through several new lows in his career as he struggles to the end of his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. James will try to bounce back from a career-worst fourth quarter in a loss at New York on Sunday and lead the Lakers to a win when they visit the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.
James, who will miss the playoffs for the first time since his second season in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004-05, went 4-of-15 from the floor in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 124-123 setback and had his game-winning shot attempt blocked on the final possession. "It bothers me in the fact we didn't close the game out, and being the competitor that I am, it bothers me that I didn't make enough plays down the stretch," James told reporters after missing 11 shots in a quarter for the first time in his career. "It bothers me that I didn't even get a shot up at the hoop. Of course that stuff bothers me, but I mean what's the difference between their record and our record? Two teams out of the postseason. So, there's no difference." The Bucks already clinched their spot in the postseason and are inching toward the top seed overall but fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 130-125 on Sunday despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's career-high 52 points.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (31-39): James finished with 33 points on 11-of-26 shooting, eight assists and six rebounds in the latest setback. "He's one of the all-time great players in our league," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters of James. "He understands time and score and everything else. So, he's earned that right to take the shots he feels comfortable with. As opposed to some younger guys, you draw things up and tell them what to look for and tell them where to go at what time. He's earned the right to feel that out and take the shots he feels like are going to be good for him." The Lakers are losers of three straight and eight of the last nine to drift 9 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers entering play on Monday with 12 left to play.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (52-18): Antetokounmpo's career night came despite an injured ankle, which the All-Star felt during the contest. "It feels good," Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. "I tweaked it a little bit. At first you feel a little bit of pain, but when the adrenaline kicks in you are able to keep playing. It was a big game. I just wanted to keep playing." The 24-year-old MVP candidate went 15-of-26 from the floor and 19-of-21 from the free-throw line while adding 16 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block to his line in the loss.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks PG Malcolm Brogdon will reportedly miss six to eight weeks after suffering a foot injury on Friday.
2. Lakers reserve SG Alex Caruso is 5-of-7 from 3-point range over the last four games.
3. Milwaukee earned a 131-120 win at Los Angeles on March 1 behind 31 points from PG Eric Bledsoe.