With an 8-5 record, the Milwaukee Bucks are back in action tonight after a thrilling overtime 147-134 win against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for 25 points, 18 assists, and 7 rebounds as he returned to the court after being sidelined for two games because of a patellar tendinopathy in his left knee.

Now, the Bucks fans will be hoping to see him perform similarly against Luka Doncic and Co., who are in town tonight. However, given that the two-time MVP only returned from his knee issue on Friday, will Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers be willing to play him in back-to-back games?

Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing tonight against the Lakers?

The Milwaukee Bucks star has reportedly been upgraded to available an hour before tip-off, having previously been listed as probable on the team’s injury report. Although Antetokounmpo has been dealing with left knee patellar tendinopathy that forced him to miss a couple of games, all signs pointed toward his availability tonight. This is massive news for the Bucks, who rely heavily on their franchise player.

The 30-year-old has been producing MVP-level numbers this season. So far, the Greek Freak is averaging a team-high 32.6 points per game, 11.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. Even though he might not be getting as much under the spotlight as Nikola Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis has been silently going about his business.

However, tonight he’ll have a chance to send a message to the league, as he’ll be up against Luka Doncic. Speaking of which, what about the rest of the players?

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Milwaukee Bucks vs LA Lakers injury reports ahead of tonight’s clash

With Giannis Antetokounmpo listed as available, the Bucks have a couple of minor setbacks to worry about. One of them is that of Taurean Prince, who underwent surgery recently to repair a herniated disc in his neck. As a result, not only will the Milwaukee star miss this game, but he has also been sidelined indefinitely.

Meanwhile, the Bucks will also be without Kevin Porter Jr. tonight. The 25-year-old guard has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for the foreseeable future. Now, while these injuries are not ideal for Milwaukee, they’ve been doing pretty well despite them.

So there’s no reason to believe that they won’t be alright tonight against the Lakers. As for their opponents, the same cannot be said for the Purple & Gold.

The Lakers have been navigating this season without LeBron James. The Akron Hammer is yet to make his debut this season, ever since suffering a sciatica injury. However, the good news is that he’s back to full-contact practice and even participated in a 5-on-5 workout on Thursday.

Still, James won’t be taking the court tonight. At the same time, the Lakers will also be without veteran guard Gabe Vincent, who has sustained an ankle injury.

So, by the looks of things, both teams are doing pretty well with injuries, which should mean that we can expect star-studded lineups from both sides.

Bucks vs Lakers predicted lineups

Here’s how the Milwaukee Bucks could start:

And, here’s how the Los Angeles Lakers could start:

When and where to watch tonight’s game

Everything you need to know before this massive showdown between the Bucks and the Lakers.

Game preview and prediction

The stage is set for an exciting clash between two heavyweight teams, but the question is, who has the upper hand in tonight’s battle? Well, historically, the Purple & Gold has dominated this fixture, leading 86-62. However, in the last two games, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have emerged victorious.

So, this could be anyone’s game tonight. More so, with this being a home game for Milwaukee. Although there’s not much to separate the two, we feel like the Bucks might take the dub tonight. Will they? That’s something we all will have to wait and watch.