Luka Doncic scores 41 as Lakers rout Milwaukee Bucks to cap 3-2 trip

The stressful trip grew even more trying for the Lakers when two more core players weren’t able to play in the last leg of a five-game journey that tested L.A. in many ways.

Steady defensive ace Marcus Smart (viral illness) and the solid Rui Hachimura (left calf soreness) missed the second night of back-to-back games Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, the two of them sidelined along with LeBron James (sciatica) and Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain).

That left it up to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton to lead the rest of the Lakers to the finish of the eight-day trip and overcome the dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Doncic, Reaves and Ayton combined for 86 points, and the Lakers opened a 31-point, first-half lead that went a long way in pulling off a 119-95 win over the Bucks.

Read more: With LeBron nearing a return, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic lead Lakers past Pelicans

Doncic led the way with 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists, making big shots and getting to the line to turn back the Bucks and help the Lakers finish their trip 3-2. Doncic was nine for 19 from the field, including five for 11 from three-point range. He made 18 of 20 free throws.

“I think it’s pretty incredible,” Doncic said. “We played back-to-back. I think me and AR played like 40 minutes yesterday. We had a long flight, coming in at 3 a.m. Everybody’s tired. So just to come out and be up 30 at halftime, it’s incredible. It speaks a lot about the group.”

Reaves had 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds and also hit big shots to block the Bucks’ comeback, while Ayton had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but his effort wasn’t enough to lift the Bucks, who also were playing a back-to-back.

The Lakers’ lead got sliced to 13 in the fourth quarter, but Doncic and Reaves wouldn’t let the Lakers lose their grip, both drilling threes and making free throws to ensure they pulled out the win.

Reaves had 17 points in the second half. He went five for seven from three-point range in the final 24 minutes….