NBA highlights on March 8: Lakers shut down Bucks without James

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 123-122 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, giving the opponents their second straight loss.

The Lakers' LeBron James sat out the game due to a sore left ankle, which should have been the Bucks' best chance to win because the opponents lacked a big forward and their best playmaker. Nonetheless, they lost in the end, because of both their own mistakes and superb performances of certain players of the Lakers.

The biggest contributor to the home team's victory was D'Angelo Russell, who shot 17-for-25 from the field, including making nine triples out of 12 attempts, to score season-high 44 points in addition to team-high nine assists. When the purple and gold missed 14 of their 23 field goals (FGs) in the fourth quarter, Russell got 23 of the team's 27 points, including making the floater that placed the Lakers on a one-point lead when there were 5.9 seconds left.

Needing only to make one bucket to come back to win, the Bucks left their final play to Damian Lillard. He faced Spencer Dinwiddie on the top of the key. There was no screen or double-teaming. Dinwiddie is about eight centimeters taller than Lillard with a 2.03-meter wingspan. Having gone 4-for-12 from downtown previously on Friday night, Lillard decided to drive in this time and then shot a fadeaway jumper. Dinwiddie read his mind, avoided any contact, and denied his jot with a clean block to seal the deal for the Lakers.

Behind Russell's dominant performance and Dinwiddie's remarkable block in the final moment was Anthony Davis' solid work on both ends that kept the Lakers together in Friday's game. He had a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds in addition to five assists and three blocks. His presence enabled the team to outperform the opponents in both shooting efficiency and points in the paint.

Lillard shot poorly behind the arc, but he made six of his 11 FG attempts within the 3-point line to get 28 points plus 12 assists with only one turnover. Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped a triple-double of 34 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, making he and Lillard the first NBA star duo that both got at least 25 points and 10 assists in one game.

What really cost the Bucks Friday's game from their side was the fact that Lillard is a defensive deadweight and the team's lack of defensive discipline during most time on the court. Russell dribbled over 10 seconds in his final play with one purpose, to attack Lillard, who could stop nobody with his defense.

Moreover, the Bucks made a lot of poor defensive choices including double-teaming the ball-handler with defenders from the strong side, having multiple players dash toward one player for help defense, and exposing Lillard easily to the attackers. The fact that they managed to gain the lead in the final period meant that they knew how to play the game in the right way, which was to avoid the above acts. What's confusing was why it took them three quarters to adapt under coach Doc Rivers.

Other games on Friday (away teams come first):

Minnesota Timberwolves 104-113 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Timberwolves fell from the Western Conference leading position after losing to the Cavaliers in overtime (OT) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Though the team lacked their best offensive big man, Karl-Anthony Towns because of injury, Naz Reed filled in his position by getting 34 points at 55.6 percent from the field. However, the team's ace Anthony Edwards missed all eight of his shots in the fourth quarter and the OT, costing the Timberwolves Friday's key game on the road.

The Cavaliers saw dominant performances from Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, who combined to drop 67 points. Allen got 20 of his 33 points in the fourth period and the OT. He grabbed five offensive rebounds and went to the free throw line as many as 21 times before making 15 shots there. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was fouled out as a result of guarding Allen.

Miami Heat 100-107 Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder rose to the No. 1 place in the West after coming back to beat the Heat at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Friday. They trailed by as many as 14 points (47-33) in the second quarter, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) got 23 points in the second half, leading his side to win on a 60-43 rally.

Having scored 37 points in the game, SGA matched Kevin Durant with 47 30+points games, the most by any player in franchise history. When he stepped onto the free throw line in the fourth period, home fans chanted "MVP" for him.

New Orleans Pelicans 103-95 Philadelphia 76ers

Charlotte Hornets 100-112 Washington Wizards

Orlando Magic 74-98 New York Knicks

Atlanta Hawks 99-92 Memphis Grizzlies

Houston Rockets 123-107 Portland Trail Blazers