The Lakers picked up their first preseason win – and the first of JJ Redick’s coaching career – against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum after going on a 31-4 run in the final quarter.
With Austin Reaves sidelined because of ankle soreness – which Redick said the team isn’t concerned about – Max Christie (eight points on 3-of-4 shooting) stepped into the starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura (14 points, five rebounds) and D’Angelo Russell (six points, five assists).
But it was the Lakers’ bench, led by first-round pick Dalton Knecht (13 points, eight rebounds, four assists) and Exhibit 10 contract-signee Quincy Olivari (11 points, five rebounds) that orchestrated them to a 107-102 comeback victory over the Bucks.
After trailing by as many as 15 points (89-74) with 9½ minutes left, and both teams mostly utilizing end-of-bench players for significant parts of the second half, the Lakers scored 20 unanswered points to take a 94-89 lead with fewer than five minutes left in the game.
Olivari knocked down a trio of 3-pointers during the Lakers’ run.
“Quincy just completely changed the game,” Redick said postgame. “To me, and I told our guys this [afterward], what he did is the blueprint for what we’re asking for a few of our players in terms of just picking up fullcourt, being disruptive, taking time off the shot clock. He just executed exactly what we want from someone in his position.”
Similar to his preseason debut against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, James only played in the first half, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists in 16 minutes.
Davis had 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots in 25 minutes, playing early in the third quarter before sitting out the final 18½ minutes.
The Bucks, who led 58-52 at halftime, were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (20 points, seven rebounds, two blocked shots) and Bobby Portis (23 points on 8-of-9 shooting off the bench). Milwaukee didn’t play its starters in the second half.
The Lakers’ Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent (eight points) and Christie were on minutes restrictions.
Redick said of Reaves: “Just thought it’d be good to give him [time]. He’s been in the gym with us for the majority of September and played in the second half Sunday night. Thought it would be good for him to have the night off.”
Thursday’s matchup reunited familiar faces.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers was the Clippers’ coach when Redick played for them from 2013-17. Despite previous public criticisms, both said there are no bad feelings between the two.
“We’re fine,” Redick said before the game. “I don’t carry beef with people. And I’m not going to get into the history of Doc and I’s relationship right now. And I probably won’t ever. He’s fine in my book.”
While working for ESPN as an NBA analyst last season, Redick criticized Rivers during an appearance on “First Take” last February as the Bucks struggled after Rivers replaced Adrian Griffin midseason.
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“I’ve seen the trend for years – the trend is always making excuses,” Redick said of Rivers at the time. “Doc, we get it, taking over a team in the middle of a season is hard. It’s hard, we get it. But it’s always an excuse. It’s always throwing your team under the bus. There’s never accountability with that guy. There’s never accountability.”
Redick said he regretted his tone while criticizing Rivers.
“I will share that after that ‘First Take’ appearance, there were a number of conversations that I had with people – both at ESPN and within the league – that provided a good amount of perspective whether I had stayed in the media or whether I had pursued a coaching job,” Redick said. “I will say this again, regret my tone in that case. I’ve owned that and I regret my tone.”
Thursday was also the first time former Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who Redick replaced and is now Rivers’ lead assistant coach, was on the opposite sideline of his former team.