Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, right, controls the ball while Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 113-95. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant had 22 points and six assists during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 113-95 victory over the Bucks on Tuesday night in Milwaukee’s first game since ending Golden State’s 24-0 start to the season.
D’Angelo Russell had 19 points and seven assists as the Lakers took a 22-point lead in the third quarter and cruised to their second victory in 15 games, improving to 4-21 in Bryant’s farewell season.
Michael Carter-Williams scored 19 points for the Bucks, who played without leading scorer Greg Monroe in their first game since snapping the Warriors’ 28-game winning streak dating to last season.
Monroe was a late scratch with a sore left knee for the Bucks, who have lost 10 straight road games.
The Lakers pushed their lead to 18 points in the third quarter on a four-point play by Bryant. Moments later, Los Angeles was up by 22 – its largest lead at any point in the entire season.
Lou Williams scored 16 points, while Julius Randle had 14 points and 14 rebounds. The Lakers had a season-high 26 assists and produced seven double-digit scorers for the first time this year.
Kobe Chronicles
Bryant had a productive, relatively efficient game in the Lakers’ return to Staples Center after a 1-7 road trip. He also got the fourth quarter off after playing in his 11th game in 18 days.
Bryant shot an air ball on his first attempt, but later hit four straight to finish the first quarter with 10 points. He hit three 3-pointers and finished 7 for 15 from the field, building on his improved shooting in the past four games.