Lakers Extend Win Streak vs. Bucks, Box Score Stats, Highlights for Luka, Reaves, Kuzma, Top Players

The Los Angeles Lakers are still on fire.

Despite losing Austin Reaves to a left heel injury in the third quarter, Los Angeles extended its winning streak to seven with a 123-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday at Fiserv Forum. It improved to 11-2, while the 1-11 Bucks continue to trend in the opposite direction with an eighth consecutive loss.

Player	PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
Luka Dončić (LAL)	32	5	5	0	3
Sandro Mamukelashvili (LAL)	23	3	2	0	1
Austin Reaves (LAL)	18	3	5	0	3
Walker Kessler (LAL)	10	11	3	1	1
Tyler Herro (MIL)	27	2	7	1	0
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (MIL)	25	5	3	0	2
Kyle Kuzma (MIL)	9	1	1	1	2

Prior to Reaves' injury, he and Luka Dončić were back in the lineup together against an overmatched Bucks squad after the former missed Monday's win over the Atlanta Hawks and the latter was sidelined for Sunday's win over the Detroit Pistons.

Dončić also had an injury scare in the fourth quarter, although the Lakers were well ahead and didn't need to risk anything by leaving him in the game:

The pairing played well prior to the setbacks, and Sandro Mamukelashvili picked up the scoring slack when needed.

While this was just one early season game, it was the type of matchup the Lakers could ill-afford to lose if they are going to remain a threat in the crowded race for the Western Conference's No. 1 seed.

Milwaukee is one of the worst teams in the league, and contenders such as the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and others will surely take care of business in their matchups. That means Los Angeles needs to do the same if it is going to keep pace.

Dončić and Reaves wasted no time setting the tone as the Purple and Gold built an 11-point halftime advantage. Dončić found his stroke from deep, while Reaves attacked the lane and took advantage of openings when the Bucks were too focused on No. 77. 

He even mixed in a no-look basket and dunk in the first half for good measure before leaving in the third quarter.

It wasn't just the backcourt duo, though, as Mamukelashvili provided a spark off the bench with his outside shooting as the Lakers continued to seize control before Reaves exited.

It wasn't all bad news for the Bucks, as Nate Ament threw down a monster dunk while Tyler Herro took over for stretches with his scoring and facilitating. Jaime Jaquez Jr. also contributed off the bench, although the Lakers extended their advantage to 21 in the third quarter as Dončić found Walker Kessler by the rim before hitting Mamukelashvili and Ziaire Williams for triples.

By the time Dončić ended the quarter with an and-1 jumper, the game was all but secure for the visitors. That was notable, as there was no reason to consider putting Reaves back in the game following his injury with the Lakers cruising.

Whenever the Bucks built even the slightest bit of momentum, Dončić had an answer with either his shooting or willingness to create plays for others until his own night came to an end.

As a result, the Lakers still have plenty of momentum heading into Sunday's road game against the Phoenix Suns.