In an anticipated showdown, the Los Angeles Lakers faltered as the Milwaukee Bucks made a clear statement they are the measuring stick of the NBA at this stage.
The Bucks used a huge second quarter to blow things open and held on late as they defeated the Lakers, 111-104. The loss marked the first time during the 2019-20 NBA season the Lakers suffered back-to-back defeats. In a matchup of the teams with the two best records in the NBA, it was the Bucks defense that was the difference.
Following a rough first quarter offensively for both teams, the Bucks took over in the second.