FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Bucks - Game 48

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs. Bucks – Game 48

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Wednesday night marked the debut of Andre Drummond with the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center. Without LeBron James and Anthony Davis though, it did not make much of a difference. Drummond getting hurt himself didn’t help either, and the result was a 112-97 loss for the Lakers.

 

Drummond immediately impacted his first game with the Lakers, blocking a shot at the rim, drawing a charge, and making a push shot from the free-throw line in the first few minutes of the game. The rest of Los Angeles could get going from the 3-point line, giving the team an early 17-11 lead.

Wesley Matthews was a big spark off the bench, nailing a pair of 3-pointers and playing hard defense to keep the Lakers ahead. L.A. drained a season-high for 3-pointers in any quarter (8) and went into the second with a 30-24 lead.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel decided to use his challenge at the beginning of the quarter after Matthews was called for a foul on Giannis Antetokounmpo and won it. However, Matthews was forced to leave the game after the 2-time NBA MVP elbowed in the head, and the Bucks began to close the gap as they found success attacking the middle of the paint and getting all the way to the cup.

 

Milwaukee eventually took back the lead as Khris Middleton began to heat up from the field, taking advantage of the smaller Los Angeles defenders. The Lakers struggled to get much going against the Bucks defense and as a result, they went into the half trailing 57-49.

 

Montrezl Harrell started in place of Drummond to begin the second half as the latter was getting worked on on the bench, and the Bucks immediately upped their lead to 10.

Drummond eventually returned, but Milwaukee’s defense prevented Los Angeles from making a dent in the deficit. Drummond’s return was short-lived as he wound up being forced to leave for good with a right big toe contusion early in the third quarter.

Harrell was able to put some points on the board for the Lakers in Drummond’s absence, but the Bucks had no issues scoring in the paint on the other end. Los Angeles’ shooting struggles continued, and they found themselves down 89-75 heading into the final period. At one point, the Lakers went 2-for-23 from the 3-point line as their deficit continued to grow larger.

The Lakers managed to cut into the Bucks lead at the top of the fourth, but the latter battled back to stay well ahead. Even when Los Angeles was finally able to score, Milwaukee responded immediately and prevented a run.

 

Andre Dummond hurt in first game as a Laker.

 

The much-anticipated Los Angeles Lakers debut of center Andre Drummond came on Wednesday night but unfortunately did not go the way anyone had hoped. Drummond played just 14 minutes on the night and was forced to leave the Lakers’ 112-97 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks early.

Somewhat surprisingly, Drummond did not start the second half and was seen on the bench with his shoe off dealing with some foot injury. Drummond would check in a couple of minutes into the second half, but less than two minutes later, he would leave following a timeout. He would limp to the locker room and did not return to the contest, finishing with just four points, two assists, one rebound, and one block.

Following the loss, Drummond told the media exactly what happened to cause the issue.

 

“In the first quarter when I came out Brook [Lopez] had stepped on my foot and I didn’t really think anything of it,” Drummond said. “I came back in the second quarter and it was hurting a little bit more and after halftime, I finally took my sock off to look and my whole toenail was gone. It was just all bad from there. I couldn’t walk or run, so I asked coach to take me out.”

 

The Lakers hit the road and take on the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. Tip-off is at 7:00 pm and you can watch the game on Spectrum SportsNet.

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-Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Joe Arrigo on Twitter @JoeArrigo

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