4 Reasons Why The Lakers Ran Past Bucks 123-112 To Improve Record To 11-2

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their impressive start to the 2026-27 NBA season, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 123-112 to improve their record to 11-2. Behind another spectacular performance from Luka Doncic , solid bench contribution from Sandro Mamukelashvili, and a relentless offense, Los Angeles controlled the matchup for much of the evening. Doncic finished with 32 points, five rebounds, and five assists , while Austin Reaves added 18 points and five assists before an injury ended his night. However, the Lakers received plenty of contributions beyond their superstar backcourt, including 23 points from Mamukelashvili and a double-double from Walker Kessler . Milwaukee had an impressive individual performance from Tyler Herro , who finished with 27 points and seven assists, but the Bucks couldn’t overcome Los Angeles’ offensive balance and dominance in several important statistical categories. Here are four reasons why the Lakers ran past Milwaukee to secure another important victory.   1. Luka Doncic Delivered Another MVP Performance Doncic continues to prove that the game is too easy for him right now. The Slovenian superstar finished with 32 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting 10-25 from the field and 5-12 from three-point range. He also converted seven of his 10 free-throw attempts. Although Doncic wasn’t particularly efficient overall, his ability to consistently generate offense kept Milwaukee’s defense under pressure. The Bucks struggled to find a reliable answer for his combination of shot creation, perimeter shooting, and ability to draw fouls. Doncic also finished with a team-best plus-minus of +21, highlighting the Lakers’ success during his minutes on the floor. With Doncic continuing to produce at an elite level, Los Angeles has established a remarkably high offensive ceiling early in the season.   2. Sandro Mamukelashvili Changed The Game Off The Bench One of the biggest stories of the night was Mamukelashvili’s outstanding contribution as a reserve. The Lakers forward finished with 23 points on an incredibly efficient 9-15 shooting performance, including 5-8 from beyond the arc. He also recorded three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 26 minutes. Mamukelashvili provided exactly the type of scoring punch that allows Los Angeles to maintain offensive pressure even when its starters aren’t dominating every possession. His five three-pointers were particularly important, giving the Lakers another perimeter threat alongside Doncic and Reaves. He also finished with a +21 rating, matching Doncic for the best plus-minus on the team. Milwaukee simply couldn’t afford to focus exclusively on Los Angeles’ primary offensive weapons, and Mamukelashvili made the Bucks pay for that defensive attention.   3. Walker Kessler Dominated The Paint Kessler delivered another valuable performance in the Lakers’ frontcourt, finishing with 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. His 11 rebounds helped Los Angeles establish a 48-40 advantage on the glass, while his presence inside contributed to the Lakers’ ability to control the paint offensively and defensively. Los Angeles also recorded 19 offensive rebounds compared to Milwaukee’s 14, creating additional scoring opportunities throughout the contest. Kessler’s contributions were especially important because the Lakers didn’t rely exclusively on perimeter shooting to generate offense. They scored 48 points in the paint, eight more than Milwaukee, while consistently creating opportunities around the basket. His rebounding and interior presence gave Los Angeles another significant advantage in a game where second-chance opportunities mattered.   4. The Lakers’ Offensive Balance Was On Point Perhaps the biggest difference between the two teams was Los Angeles’ ability to generate offense through multiple avenues. The Lakers finished with 123 points on 46.3% shooting, converting 15-40 three-point attempts while recording 32 assists. Milwaukee, meanwhile, shot 43.2% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range, finishing with 112 points and 25 assists. Los Angeles also generated 22 fast-break points compared to Milwaukee’s 12, demonstrating its ability to capitalize on transition opportunities. The Lakers’ 14 steals were another significant factor. Although both teams committed 18 turnovers, Los Angeles converted Milwaukee’s mistakes into 22 points off turnovers, compared to 28 for the Bucks. Milwaukee had some impressive individual contributions, particularly from Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., who scored 27 and 25 points, respectively. However, the Bucks lacked the collective offensive consistency necessary to keep pace with Los Angeles.