Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 113-106 loss to Los Angeles Lakers

Following their loss to the Brooklyn Nets Monday night, the Milwaukee Bucks had another top-heavy matchup on their hands as the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers strolled into town Thursday night.

With both Milwaukee and Los Angeles coming off losses, the intensity of this game was surely turned up a notch as each team tried to get back on the right track with a victory. After 48 frustrating minutes of action, the Bucks suffered their sixth defeat of the season with a 113-106 loss to the Lakers in primetime at Fiserv Forum.

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The Bucks have very rarely lost consecutive games in Mike Budenholzer’s tenure as head coach, previously only happening five times in the past two regular seasons. However, they have now done it for the first time this season just 15 games in.

It is not time to panic just yet, but there is concern surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks without question. With that being said, here are three takeaways from Thursday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Takeaway No. 3 from loss to Los Angeles Lakers – Milwaukee Bucks have issues with second unit

Heading into this game, it was clear that the Bucks had a consistency issue in the second unit. When the team wins, it is oftentimes partly due to a strong showing from the bench, as players such as Bobby Portis, Bryn Forbes, and Pat Connaughton have stepped up and produced in meaningful minutes.

However, in losses, they have been downright awful, and that trend carried over into this game against the Lakers. Milwaukee’s bench scored just 16 points on the night, shooting a collective 7-for-17 from the floor and 0-of-3 from behind the arc. If there were still question marks surrounding how significant the impact of the bench would be for the Bucks, they all answered Thursday night.

If the second unit continues these struggles against top-tier opponents, things could get out of hands fast in Milwaukee. Another lackluster showing from the bench in a pivotal game left the Bucks heavily dependent on their starting unit, particularly Giannis Antetokounmpo in a battle of former league MVPs.