Milwaukee Bucks vs LA Lakers Starting Lineups and Depth Charts for Mar. 20 | 2024-25 NBA Season

The Milwaukee Bucks and LA Lakers round off their season series in Thursday's marquee league pass showdown. The Bucks handsomely beat their counterparts 126-106 at home in their Mar. 13 matchup. Despite Luka Doncic's 45-point night, the Lakers couldn't keep this a close one. Their defense fell apart in their starting frontcourt, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes' absence.

LA seemingly has the edge ahead of Thursday's showdown. It has nine straight wins at the Crypto.com Arena and three consecutive entering this clash. Meanwhile, the Bucks have lost two straight lopsided battles.

With the Lakers slightly healthy after Hayes' return, Milwaukee could get a taste of the LA's elite defense. Hayes has been a top-five defensive anchor among centers since Jan. 15, leading the Lakers to a league-best 109.2 defensive rating over a 31-game stretch. Over the past three games, LA has a 118.5-rated offense and 105.7-rated defense.

On the other hand, the Bucks' offense has crumbled over their past two outings. They scored 105 in the 16-point loss to the OKC Thunder on Saturday and 93 against the Golden State Warriors in an 11-point loss on Tuesday.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs LA Lakers Injury Report for Mar. 20

Milwaukee Bucks injury report

The Bucks have five players on their injury report. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Gary Trent Jr. are probable. Antetokounmpo is dealing with a right patella tendinopathy, Lillard has a right groin soreness, and Trent is nursing a left patella tendinopathy.

Meanwhile, Jericho Sims is out, citing a right thumb UCL sprain, and Bobby Portis is out, serving a league suspension.

Update: Lillard is ruled out, while Giannis and Trent will play.

LA Lakers injury report

The Lakers have ruled out Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber. Doncic is out with an ankle injury, James is out with a left groin strain, Hachimura is dealing with right knee tendinopathy, and Kleber is recovering from foot surgery.

Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle), Austin Reaves' (ankle) and Jarred Vanderbilt (groin) have also been ruled out.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs LA Lakers Starting Lineups and Depth Charts for Mar. 20

Milwaukee Bucks starting lineup and depth chart

The Bucks will start Ryan Rollins and Taurean Prince in the backcourt, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Kuzma as the forwards next to center Brook Lopez.

PG	Ryan Rollins	Kevin Porter Jr.
SG	Taurean Prince	AJ Green	Andre Jackson Jr.
SF	Kyle Kuzma	Gary Trent Jr.
PF	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Pat Connaughton	Tyler Smith
C	Brook Lopez	Pete Nance	Chris Livingston

LA Lakers starting lineup and depth chart

The Lakers will start Jordan Goodwin and Austin Reaves as the guards, with a frontcourt trio of Markieff Morris, Dalton Knecht and Jaxson Hayes.

PG	Gabe Vincent	Shake Milton
SG	Jordan Goodwin	Bronny James
SF	Dalton Knecht	Cam Reddish
PF	Markieff Morris
C	Jaxson Hayes	Christian Koloko	Alex Len