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2023-24 NBA Regular Season
Los Angeles Lakers v Milwaukee Bucks
Crypto.com Arena
Los Angeles, California
Saturday 9 March 2024
Tip-off at 03:00
Los Angeles Lakers will continue their push for a place in the playoffs when they host Milwaukee Bucks at the Crypto.com Arena on the morning of Saturday, March 9.
The Lakers have ramped up the pressure on their rivals in the Western Conference after winning eight of their 11 games last month.
Darvin Ham's team beat Oklahoma City Thunder 116-104 on March 5 to make it three wins in their last four games as they closed within 1.5 games of Phoenix Suns (6th) in ninth position.
The race to qualify automatically for the playoffs remains tight in the West, with just four games separating New Orleans Pelicans (5th) and Golden State Warriors (10th).
D'Angelo Russell scored a game-high 26 points against the Thunder and sunk three 3-pointers on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
"My team-mates find me when I'm hot," Russell said. "It makes it easier when I can stretch the floor like that. That's what shooting does. It's a pleasure."
The Bucks are flying high in the Eastern Conference and remain the second-best team behind Boston Celtics with a record of 41-21.
Doc Rivers is beginning to get the best out of his players after a bumpy start, which saw him lose five of his opening six games at the helm.
The Central Division franchise beat Los Angeles Clippers 113-106 on March 5 to make it six wins on the spin and stay a half-game ahead of Cleveland Cavaliers (3rd).
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Damian Lillard was the star of the show against the Clippers, scoring 41 points as Rivers' team shrugged off the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"Nobody talked about who wasn't playing before the game," Lillard said. "It was literally like we were in the locker room, Doc didn't come in there and say, 'All right, Giannis is out. Khris is out'.
"It was like, we went in there, we talked about the scouting report and what we needed to do to win the game, and that was it. I think that just shows what's expected, the standard that we're starting to have and who we're becoming as a team."
Los Angeles Lakers v Milwaukee Bucks - Head-to-head, Regular Season
Games played: 144
Lakers wins: 84
Bucks wins: 60
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