On Dec. 2, 2022, the Los Angeles Lakers began a six-game road trip with a marquee matchup versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
It was an opportunity for them to prove they were better than their 8-12 record indicated. The Bucks, meanwhile, were 15-5 and were about to enjoy the season debut of Khris Middleton, who had been out with a wrist injury.
What followed was 48 minutes of intense, fast-break basketball between two primed opponents. Antetokounmpo was up for the contest. He scored 40 points on 16-of-23 shooting and provided one highlight play after another.
Luckily for the Lakers, Anthony Davis also played his best. He poured in 44 points while making 18-of-27 from the field, and he added 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.
The two teams went back and forth throughout, but Davis scored L.A.’s final five points to ensure a 133-129 win. Two of his points came off a loose ball recovered by Russell Westbrook, which led to a fast break that Davis finished with a big dunk.
It was an early season highlight for a Lakers team that would soon be born again thanks to a couple of midseason trades and make a deep playoff run no one expected at the time.
