Liddell scores a career-high 21 points to lead the Nets over the Bucks 96-90

NEW YORK (AP) — E.J. Liddell scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 96-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

Ben Saraf added 19, while Drake Powell and Malachi Smith each had 11 for the Nets (20-59), who have won two straight and three of their last five.

AJ Green scored 20 points for Milwaukee, which dropped to 31-48. Taurean Prince added 16 points, Cormac Ryan chipped in with 14 and Jericho Sims had 12.

Five years after the Bucks edged the Nets in Game 7 of a thrilling second-round series on their way to the NBA championship, both teams are out of the playoff race and Milwaukee's Doc Rivers indicated before the game he might not coach much longer.

Liddell, who came off a 15-point, five rebound, two blocked shots effort in Brooklyn’s 121-115 win over Washington on Sunday, scored 17 points in the first half. But he was the only Nets player to score in double figures in the opening 24 minutes and Brooklyn only led 49-43 at halftime.

The game remained close throughout the third quarter, with the Nets holding a 70-62 advantage.

Brooklyn extended its lead to 83-72 in the first five minutes of the fourth. Saraf converted a one-legged fadeaway and had a breakaway dunk in consecutive possessions.

Milwaukee cut the deficit to 88-87 on Prince’s corner 3 with 2:28 left. But that was as close as the Bucks would come.

Bucks: Visit Central Division rival Detroit Wednesday.

Nets: Conclude the home portion of their 2025-26 season against Indiana on Thursday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) drives past Brooklyn Nets guard Tyson Etienne (10) and Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) blocks Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) passes the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against Brooklyn Nets, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) blocks Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) fights for control of the ball with Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James is sitting out the Los Angeles Lakers ' game against Oklahoma City on Tuesday night to rest his injured left foot.

The Pacific Division champion Lakers are already without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are both sidelined for at least the rest of the regular season with significant injuries. Doncic, Reaves and James are averaging a combined 77.6 points per game this season, or 66.5% of the Lakers' typical nightly scoring output.

The Lakers also are without starting guard Marcus Smart (bruised right ankle) and backup center Jaxson Hayes (bruised left foot) against the NBA-leading Thunder.

The 41-year-old James has been dealing with left foot arthritis and discomfort for much of the regular season, and he has occasionally sat out games to rest. The visit from the Thunder will be the 22nd game he has missed in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.

Although James' absence is only a short-term decision to rest a veteran in a game that would be difficult to win with a full roster, the Lakers’ injury woes in the past week have badly damaged their hopes of being a championship contender in Doncic’s first full season with the club.

Both Doncic — the NBA’s scoring leader — and Reaves were injured during the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Thunder last week. Doncic incurred a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, and Reaves injured his oblique muscles.

The Lakers have indicated only that both Doncic and Reaves will miss the rest of this week, but their injuries typically take longer than that to heal in most athletes. Coach JJ Redick seemed to acknowledge Tuesday they'll be significantly short-handed when the playoffs begin.

"Our playoff rotation is not set in the first round with AR and Luka being out, so we've got to evaluate everybody and we've got to find who those guys are that we can trust and put in the playoffs," Redick said.

Doncic has left the Lakers to travel to Europe for treatment in an attempt to shorten his recovery time. Redick wouldn't say how long Doncic is likely to be away from the team.

“I think he's in good spirits,” Redick said. “In my conversations with him, he's motivated to do everything possible. I know for him, it's hard not for him to be on a basketball court. That's his happy place, and he's one of the handful of guys that really played year-round. ... He wants to get back on the court.”

In the Lakers' first game after losing Doncic and Reaves last Sunday, James had 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, but the Lakers lost 134-128 to the struggling Dallas Mavericks.

James is averaging 20.8 points, 7.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game this season. He has knocked over another set of NBA records this season, most recently surpassing Robert Parish's record for career games played.

Smart has been out since March 21, depriving the Lakers of a key defensive player and a veteran leader. Redick said the Lakers had thought Smart would be back by now.

“He was doing on-court work, and he wanted to dial it back (last week),” Redick said. “He had a great day today on the court, trending towards playing at some point this week.”

The Lakers' visit from the defending champion Thunder is the first of three games in four days. Los Angeles plays at Golden State on Thursday and hosts Phoenix on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James walks the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James grimaces as he grabs the ball after a whistle during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)