Minus LeBron, D'Angelo Russell's career-best 44 lifts Lakers - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — D'Angelo Russell scored 21 of his season-high 44 points in the fourth quarter and hit a go-ahead jumper with 5.9 seconds to play, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James' injury absence for a 123-122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

Spencer Dinwiddie blocked Damian Lillard's step-back jumper right before the buzzer to preserve a stirring win for the Lakers while James sat out to rest his sore left ankle, missing his ninth game of the season overall due to the persistent injury.

Los Angeles was carried by Russell, who tied his career high with nine 3-pointers while also handing out nine assists in a spectacular performance. He scored eight points in the final 1:13 while the Lakers rallied from a late deficit and improved to 5-4 without James.

«D-Lo just stepped up and won us the game, and obviously with Spence with the defense on that last possession,» said Austin Reaves, who scored 18 points for the Lakers. «Just seeing D-Lo take over the game, I constantly kept telling him in timeouts, 'Take us home.'»

Russell again raised his offensive output when forced to play without James or Davis, shooting confidently while also distributing the ball effectively on offense. Russell was nonchalant afterward about his biggest game of the season, but acknowledged that an NBA career including four trades and annual trade rumors swirling around him has honed his focus for tough situations.

«On the floor, I've always felt like I was capable of doing things, [and] getting hot makes it a little more exciting,» Russell said. «Off the floor, obviously you all know what I've been through. Public humiliation has done nothing but mold me into the killer that you all see today. I never lack confidence. I