The long five-game road trip officially came to an end for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, with Luka Dončić and company coming out on top against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
With another win in the books for the Lakers, JJ Redick’s squad improved to 10-4 on the season, which has them sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference standings behind the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Luka Dončić Praises Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Kind Gesture
After the Lakers took down the Bucks with relative ease, pulling off a 24-point blowout in Milwaukee, an interesting situation developed on the court once players from both teams said their goodbyes, which happens after every game in the NBA.
Apparently, the Lakers wanted the game ball, with some speculating that the team wanted it to commemorate the NBA debut of rookie Adou Thiero, who recorded his first minutes on the professional level after working his way back from a knee issue to start the season.
Veteran forward Jarred Vanderbilt was adamant about keeping the game ball, even though the referee was not having it and held on until the Lakers gave in.
Giannis is a REAL ONE 💯
The Lakers wanted the game ball for Adou Thiero, who scored his first NBA points, but the refs were not allowing it.
Giannis stepped in and secured it for the young fella ❤️ pic.twitter.com/2ABmAjwEc3
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) November 16, 2025
The referee refused to give up the game ball, which didn’t last very long, as Antetokounmpo came to the rescue, imposing his will and grabbing the ball for the team that had just crushed his squad by 24 points on his home floor.
Thiero only played five minutes during his rookie debut, but he made his presence known during his short time on the floor with this jaw-dropping dunk, which were his first points at the NBA level.
ADOU THIERO INSANE DUNK FOR HIS FIRST NBA CAREER POINTS 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ipWFwzgD2d
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 16, 2025
It remains to be seen what kind of role Thiero will play during his rookie campaign with the Lakers, but he’ll likely have the fans rooting for him to get on the floor, as he could become one of the most entertaining players on the roster and a highlight waiting to happen on a nightly basis.
With the five-game road trip coming to an end on Saturday, the Lakers will travel back to Los Angeles before taking on the visiting Utah Jazz on November 18, which could end up being the season debut for LeBron James, who has yet to play a game this season due to sciatica on his right side.
James has been ramping up his rehab by practicing with the G League affiliate South Bay Lakers. He’s reportedly looked good in these practices, with his return to the floor seemingly imminent.
