TST Best Bets: November 11, 2026
Nick Wire
Host · Writer
The Los Angeles Lakers continue their road trip tonight in Milwaukee against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers and Bucks enter tonight's matchup on completely different trajectories, as the Bucks have lost seven straight while the Lakers have won their last six.
The Bucks are third last in points per game allowed at 121.2 and the Lakers lead the league with an average of 122.1 points per game scored.
Part of Milwaukee's defensive struggles are due to the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, their defensive anchor and All-NBA forward they traded this offseason.
As a result of the trade, the Bucks picked up Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez and Kel'el Ware. Herro leads the team in both points (21.4) and assists (4.3). Jaquez is second on the team in points per game, averaging 15.3.
Ware plugged into the center role for the Bucks, thus far averaging 8.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
The Lakers' league-leading offense is led by Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.
Dončić leads the league with a per-game average of 39.3 points, along with 7.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and two steals per game. Reaves is the Lakers' secondary scorer, averaging a career-high 25.3 points per game.
Kessler anchors the paint to the tune of 14.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Kessler's 3.5 offensive rebounds per game and ability to be a lob threat open up much more space for Dončić and Reaves to operate their creative offensive games within.
First Pick: Luka Dončić over 35.5 points
Rundown: The Lakers offense won't need much from their two star guards tonight against the Bucks' lackluster defense. This should be a game the Lakers control early and get production and playing time deep into their bench. However, in Monday's win over Atlanta, Dončić took a step back as a scorer to facilitate and produce on the defensive end down the stretch. Today is a return to the standard we've seen from Dončić – which is 37+ points on great efficiency while operating the entire offense.
Second Pick: Austin Reaves over 2.5 threes made
Rundown: Reaves missed Monday's game after dealing with a sickness. However, when he played on Sunday he dominated tot he tune of 43 points while the Lakers were down Dončić. Reaves went 4-for-6 from deep against the Detroit Pistons Sunday and 4-for-5 last week against Miami. When he's the lead option or when he's facing an abysmal defense – he knocks them down from beyond the arc.
