With LeBron James back in the lineup, the Lakers are looking like a different team as they prepare to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.  James dropped a triple-double in L.A.’s 122-115 overtime win against the Knicks on Saturday, while the Bucks used a complete team effort to equal a season-high in points and down the Clippers 137-113 on Sunday.

Milwaukee opened as a 3.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 230.0.

Bucks vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

This is the second and final regular season meeting between the teams this year following Milwaukee’s 109-102 home win on Nov. 17.  Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a game-high 47 points for the Bucks, while James was out of the lineup due to injury.  The total has gone Under in the last six games between these teams.

Milwaukee has gotten the best of the Lakers over the last few years, winning eight of their last 10 games against L.A.  The Bucks are 25-30 against the spread this season, but they’ve failed to cover in four of their last six road games.  The total has gone Over in four of Milwaukee’s last five games.

After struggling at home to start the year, L.A. has seen an improvement and picked up wins in seven of their last nine games at Crypto.com Arena.  They’re 24-30 ATS overall and have covered in four of their last five games.  The total has gone Over in four of the Lakers’ last five games.

Milwaukee Bucks

The big names came to play for Milwaukee on Sunday as Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis each finished with a triple-double.  Antetokounmpo had a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds, Holiday put up 27 points and 13 assists, and Portis had 24 points and 11 rebounds.  It was the first time since last April the Bucks had three players with at least 24 points in a regular season game.  One area of improvement has been Milwaukee’s play in the third-quarter.  They had been outscored in 16 of 19 games in the third before their current road trip, but they’ve now had the advantage in two straight thirds for the first time since late December.

Antetokounmpo is obviously a major factor for this team as he is third in the NBA with 28.9 points per game and averages a team-high 11.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.  Khris Middleton and Holiday have also come up big.  Middleton averages 19.4 ppg, while Holiday puts up 18.0 and leads the team with 6.6 assists and 1.5 steals.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers received good news prior to tip-off on Saturday as James returned from a five-game absence due to swelling in his left knee.  James finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.  Malik Monk had another strong outing and also scored 29 points, while Anthony Davis had 28 points and 17 rebounds.  L.A. rallied from a 21-point second-quarter deficit for their largest comeback win in seven years.  Carmelo Anthony (hamstring) and Dwight Howard (back) both missed the game and are listed as questionable on Tuesday.  Kendrick Nunn remains out indefinitely with an ankle injury.

James and Davis are the biggest factors on this team.  James is second in the NBA with 29.1 ppg and leads the Lakers with 1.6 steals.  Davis is second on L.A. with 23.7 ppg and leads the team with 10.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Bucks vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bucks Team Leaders

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 29.88
Assists	Jrue Holiday 6.82
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.61
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.61
Blocks	Giannis Antetokounmpo 1.36

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.67
Assists	Khris Middleton 7
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 14.17
FG%	Thanasis Antetokounmpo 66.7
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.75
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.5

LAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 29.88
Assists	Jrue Holiday 6.82
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.61
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.61
Blocks	Giannis Antetokounmpo 1.36

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.67
Assists	Khris Middleton 7
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 14.17
FG%	Thanasis Antetokounmpo 66.7
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.75
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.5

LAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Milwaukee

George Hill (PG)

Prob Wed Abdominal - 10 / 05 / 22

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Wed Illness - 09 / 05 / 22

Luca Vildoza (PG)

Prob Wed Illness - 24 / 04 / 22

Bobby Portis (PF)

Prob Fri Eye - 21 / 04 / 22

Bobby Portis (PF)

Prob Wed Calf - 19 / 04 / 22

Jordan Nwora (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 17 / 04 / 22

Jrue Holiday (PG)

day-to-day Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sun Illness - 10 / 04 / 22

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 22

Bobby Portis (PF)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 22

L.A. Lakers

Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)

day-to-day Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Dwight Howard (C)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Out Sun Illness - 07 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Out Sun Foot - 06 / 04 / 22

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Sun Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 04 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 02 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22

Injuries

Milwaukee

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
George Hill (PG)	Prob Wed	Abdominal - 10 / 05 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Hill is hampered by an abdominal injury, but it is projected that he will face the Celtics on Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Wed	Illness - 09 / 05 / 22	1-2	2-2	+ -
Ibaka is ailing from an illness, but it is likely that he will be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Celtics.
Luca Vildoza (PG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 24 / 04 / 22	5-3	2-7	+ -
Vildoza is ailing from a non-COVID-19 illness, but it is likely that he will be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Bulls.
Bobby Portis (PF)	Prob Fri	Eye - 21 / 04 / 22	5-5	2-9	+ -
Portis is dealing with a right eye abrasion, but it is projected that he will hit the court against the Bulls in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Bobby Portis (PF)	Prob Wed	Calf - 19 / 04 / 22	5-5	2-9	+ -
Portis is expected to dress for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Bulls despite a right calf contusion.
Jordan Nwora (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 17 / 04 / 22	5-6	3-9	+ -
Nwora is dealing with back soreness, but it is likely that he will take on the Bulls in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	day-to-day	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	6-6	4-9	+ -
Holiday exited Sunday's game due to rest purposes, and he will not return.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 10 / 04 / 22	6-6	4-9	+ -
Ibaka is managing a non-COVID illness, but it is projected that he will be active against the Bulls for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 22	6-6	4-9	+ -
Lopez will not be in the starting lineup against the Cavaliers on Sunday as he will receive a day of rest.
Bobby Portis (PF)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 22	6-6	4-9	+ -
Portis is battling left shoulder soreness, leaving his status for Game 1 of the first round of the Eastern Conference versus the Bulls clouded.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Horton-Tucker exited Sunday's game with a left ankle sprain, and he will not return.
Dwight Howard (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Howard will not take the court for Sunday's contest versus the Nuggets as he will be given a day of rest.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Out Sun	Illness - 07 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Anthony has been absent from the lineup during the past two games with a non-COVID-19 illness, and he will not play Sunday versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Out Sun	Foot - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis has been held out of the previous two games with a right mid-foot sprain, and he will not suit up against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Sun	Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Westbrook has missed his second-straight game with a sore right shoulder, and he will not be active against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 04 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Tuesday's clash versus the Suns.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Gabriel is tending to a left ankle sprain, but he is projected to partake in Sunday's matchup with the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 02 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Sunday's clash versus the Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Anthony missed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that he will suit up Sunday against the Nuggets.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Gabriel is dealing with a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will dress for Friday's matchup with the Pelicans.