After losing each of their first five games of the 2022-23 season and 10 of their first 12, the Los Angeles Lakers faced an early six-game road trip to start December. Even though they had won six of their last eight games heading into that trip, it would be quite a challenge for them.
It started with a contest versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that had won the NBA championship less than 17 months prior.
The Greek Freak and his squad were up for this game, but so were the Lakers. Anthony Davis had his best performance of the season with 44 points, and LeBron James was also productive.
It wasn’t one of James’ most efficient games, but after going scoreless in the first quarter, he put in 10 points in the second quarter to help L.A. establish a 66-58 halftime lead. He finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists, as his two 3-pointers inside of four minutes left in the fourth quarter helped ensure a 133-129 victory.
It was a performance that helped rev up the four-time MVP before he would go on a torrid midseason stretch that would keep L.A. afloat before it could resuscitate itself with a couple of key trades.
