Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball became the youngest player ever to record a triple-double. Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI |
License Photo
MILWAUKEE -- Rookie Lonzo Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Los Angeles Lakers lost their third straight with a 98-90 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday night at the Bradley Center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points to lead the Bucks, who also got 16 off the bench from Malcolm Brogdon. Khris Middleton added 13 points while Eric Bledsoe contributed 11 in his home debut for Milwaukee.
Fellow rookie Kyle Kuzma led Los Angeles with 21 points and Julius Randle added 17.
Ball was two-thirds of the way to a triple double at halftime. He knocked down three of four 3-point attempts and went 4-for-5 from the floor overall for 11 points while dishing out 10 assists.
Ball, who is 20 years, 15 days old, completed the triple-double by getting his 10th rebound early in the fourth. He had 13 points and 11 assists at the time.
Ball eclipsed the mark set by LeBron James, who was 20 years, 20 days old when he recorded a triple-double Jan. 19, 2005 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite Ball's performance, the Lakers went into the halftime down, 51-49, in large part because of woeful shooting at the free throw line. Los Angeles made just seven of 14 attempts in the first half and were 22 of 37 in the game.
Playing the second half of a back-to-back set, the Bucks shot 41 percent through the first two quarters but finally got settled in the third, hitting 9 of 18 shots and 7 of 8 free throws.
Antetokounmpo fed Brogdon for a dunk in the quarter's waning seconds, sending Milwaukee into the fourth with a 77-67 advantage.
NOTES: Los Angeles G Lonzo Ball said he spoke to his father, LaVar Ball, who told him to focus on his own work and not worry about his brother, LiAngelo, who was arrested for shoplifting along with two UCLA teammates in China. "He just said be ready to play," Lonzo Ball said. "We are handling it out here so that is a good sign... they are out there so they are taking care of him." ... Bucks G Mirza Teletovic missed a second consecutive game with a left knee injury. Head coach Jason Kidd said he expected Teletovic to resume on-court workouts Wednesday, making it unlikely that Teletovic would return during Milwaukee's three-game home stand. ... G Eric Bledsoe started his second consecutive game for the Bucks. With Bledsoe in Milwaukee's starting lineup, Malcolm Brogdon has been moved into a bench role.
