The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks have revealed their starting lineups for Saturday's matchup at Fiserv Forum. The Lakers, fresh off a 118-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, will start Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Bronny James, Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton. The Bucks, coming from a 147-134 overtime victory against the Charlotte Hornets, will counter with Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma.
The Los Angeles Lakers enter their game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a 9-4 record after securing a 118-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in Emirates NBA Cup action. This win helped them rebound from a loss to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, though they also dropped games to the Atlanta Hawks earlier in the road trip. Coach JJ Redick adjusted the starting lineup due to late scratches of Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart, opting for Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Bronny James on the perimeter alongside Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton in the frontcourt. Redick noted this as his default lineup when healthy, pending LeBron James' return, at which point decisions on the unit will be revisited.
Redick reflected on the road trip after the Thunder loss, saying, “I think you have to look big picture then you have to look where your team is at right now.” He added, “I don’t think it’s been a great road trip for us in terms of how we’ve played... But the Atlanta game and tonight I don’t think are reflective of who the group is going to be but it clearly is who the group is right now and so we’ve got to course correct.”
The Bucks, playing a home back-to-back, recently defeated the Hornets 147-134 in overtime, outscoring them 18-5 in the extra period for their seventh win of the season. Injuries have sidelined their usual starter Kevin Porter Jr., forcing Ryan Rollins into the lineup with AJ Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma. The game marks the final leg of the Lakers' road trip, followed by two days of rest before hosting the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.