NBA: LeBron James pours in 34 points as Lakers beat Bucks

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) passes the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks players at the Bradley Center, on Jan 21, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS/NICK MONROE

MILWAUKEE (REUTERS) - LeBron James scored a season-high 34 points to help keep the Los Angeles Lakers undefeated on the road this National Basketball Association season with a 113-106 win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday (Jan 21).

The Lakers extended their franchise-best road start to 8-0.

Los Angeles' Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made a season-high seven three-pointers on 10 attempts in a 23-point night and Anthony Davis had 18 points and nine rebounds. James shot 6-for-10 from three-point range and added eight assists for the Lakers in the opener of a seven-game road trip.

Montrezl Harrell added 12 points off the bench for Los Angeles, who shot 19 of 37 (51.4 per cent) from three-point distance.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 12 rebounds, Jrue Holiday added 22 points and seven assists and Khris Middleton scored 20 for Milwaukee, who lost their second straight. Antetokounmpo committed a career-high nine turnovers.

The Lakers led 86-81 after three quarters, and they increased the gap to 96-85 on a Markieff Morris three-pointer with 8min 42sec to go. However, the Bucks pulled back within two with 3:05 left on a Middleton lay-up.

Alex Caruso sank a three-pointer to move Los Angeles ahead 108-101 with 1:42 remaining. After an Antetokounmpo lay-up, James hit a deep three-pointer to beat the shot clock and move the Lakers ahead 111-103 with 1:04 remaining, and Milwaukee were out of comebacks.

Caldwell-Pope, who came into the game third in the NBA in three-point percentage at 53.7 per cent, hit a 35-footer at the buzzer to cap an 11-2 run to close the first half and give the Lakers a 63-57 lead at the break.

Caldwell-Pope and James made three-pointers to start the second half and give the Lakers their first double-digit lead at 69-57.

The Bucks came back with a 7-0 run and continued to stay close in the third quarter despite two more treys from Caldwell-Pope.

The Bucks led by as many as seven in the first quarter before taking a 33-29 lead into the second.

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