Giannis Scores 47 Points as Milwaukee Bucks Edge Past LeBron-Less Los Angeles Lakers

(Photo : Stacy Revere/Getty Images) MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a score during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Fiserv Forum on November 17, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Things are going from bad to worse for the Los Angeles Lakers as they crashed to their second consecutive defeat with a 109-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers had no answer for two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 47 points for the defending champions.

Lakers stumble again with James still sidelined

The Lakers have now lost three of their last four games as they dropped to eighth in the Western Conference standings with an 8-8 record. The Lakers' losing woes can be attributed to the absence of LeBron James, who was sidelined for the eighth straight game because of an abdominal injury. They have struggled without their leader with the Lakers going 3-5 during that stretch.

Unlike the Lakers, the Bucks got one of their key players back in this contest after a long layoff. Khris Middleton made his much-anticipated return to Milwaukee's starting lineup after missing the Bucks' previous eight games because of COVID-19.

He looked rusty at times, scoring just 16 points on 4 of 12 shooting from the field. Middleton did play a huge part in the win, though, burying back-to-back 3-pointers 30 seconds apart early in the final quarter to put Milwaukee in the driver's seat for good. Middleton made history with the second of those 3-pointers, tying Ray Allen for first place on the Bucks' all-time list in 3s with 1,051.

The Bucks managed to survive Middleton's poor shooting night thanks to the brilliance of the Greek Freak. He wreaked havoc all evening long, knocking down 18 of his 23 field goal attempts and going 8 of 11 from the free throw line. Antetokounmpo's 47-point performance was his highest point total since nabbing a 50-piece in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks won that memorable game to clinch their first title in 50 years.

James hoping to return for Friday's game against Celtics

It is back to the drawing board for the Lakers, who will next face the Boston Celtics in this five-game road trip. A major reinforcement might be on the way for the Lake Show in this matchup with James telling ESPN on Wednesday that he hopes to play against the Celtics on Friday. Sources close to the four-time NBA champion told ESPN that there is a 50-50 chance he will suit up for the Lakers in that showdown at the TD Garden.

James loves playing in Boston, averaging 28.9 points in 54 career regular-season games. That is King James' highest scoring average in any road stadium other than Cleveland, where he has scored an average of 29.1 points in 17 games played as a visitor.

The Lakers are 4-2 this season with James in the lineup and 4-6 when he is out. James is still a force to be reckoned with even at the advanced age of 36 years old, averaging 24.8 points per game this season.