Los Angeles @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 17, 2017 ) Milwaukee 107, L.A. Lakers 103

It was known that Lonzo Ball's passing skills were superior to his shooting but the Los Angeles Lakers rookie has been dreadful while hoisting shots through his first dozen NBA games. Ball is shooting a porous 29.2 percent from the field entering Saturday's road contest against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ball, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, has shot 30 percent or less in 10 of his 12 NBA games while averaging 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists. "He's an incredible player. He's 20 years old," Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters. "But any time you turn on any sports show, all they talk about is his shot. Is it extra pressure? One hundred percent. He's a rook who gets dissected by everybody." Bucks coach Jason Kidd was a 10-time All-Star point guard and he has heard Ball being compared to him and he feels that is highly unfair. "We are jumping the gun a little bit," Kidd told ESPN. "Let's enjoy and watch this young kid play and then we will make the comparison at 40 games."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Spectrum Sports Net (Los Angeles), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE LAKERS (5-7): Ball's latest poor shooting effort came in Thursday's 111-95 loss to the Washington Wizards when he went 3-of-12 from the field. "I really don't even care, to be honest," Ball told reporters of people criticizing his shooting motion. "I know I've got to just keep shooting and just improve it every game." Ball hasn't even been the best first-round pick on the Lakers with that title going to forward Kyle Kuzma, who has six consecutive double-digit scoring performances while averaging 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (5-6): Recently acquired point guard Eric Bledsoe was in the starting lineup in his first game with the team and had 13 points and seven assists in Friday's 94-87 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. "I felt good out there, my teammates made it easy on me," Bledsoe said afterward. "I have the easy job. At the end of the day, it's basketball. We made great plays throughout the game and kept our composure at the end. It's all about winning." Reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon was moved to a reserve role and had nine points and seven assists in 34 minutes as Milwaukee halted a four-game slide.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings last season but the Bucks have won six of the past nine.

2. Milwaukee star SF Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his sixth double-double of the season with 28 points (matching his second-lowest output of the campaign) and 12 rebounds against the Spurs.

3. Los Angeles C Brook Lopez is averaging just 12.5 points over the past two games after averaging 27.3 over the previous three contests.

PREDICTION: Bucks 108, Lakers 101