Lakers' Sandro Mamukelashvili takes a shot at the Bucks after 23-point night in Milwaukee

Sandro Mamukelashvili came back to the building where his NBA career started, scored 23 points off the bench in the Lakers' 123-112 win over the Bucks on Wednesday, and then made sure Milwaukee knew how he felt about leaving. The Bucks drafted the forward-center and later waived him after a season and a half. Speaking after the game, as reported by SB Nation, he said it is "always great to come back and beat the team that waived you."

He backed it up. CBS Sports had him at 9-of-15 shooting, 5-of-8 from three, in 26 minutes, which tied his season high. SB Nation pointed out that Los Angeles is scoring 128.1 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, citing databallr. The Lakers have used him at both power forward and center, sometimes next to Walker Kessler and sometimes in place of him, and his passing and ball-handling in transition have made him one of the more useful reserves in the league this season.

The win was the seventh in a row for Los Angeles, but it came at a cost. ESPN reported that Austin Reaves left in the second half with a left heel injury and did not return. His initial X-rays were negative and he is set for more evaluation. Luka Doncic turned his right ankle with 4:25 left after landing on Kyle Kuzma's foot, though he appeared to avoid a serious injury. Collin Sexton also had a scare. Doncic finished with 32 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Reaves had 18 points before leaving.

The game got closer than it needed to. Yardbarker noted that the Lakers led by as many as 24 and took a 94-73 lead into the fourth quarter. Milwaukee then won the period 39-29, helped by a 13-0 run. Tyler Herro scored 27 for the Bucks and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 25, but Milwaukee fell to 1-11 and has now lost eight straight.

What it means for Phoenix

The Lakers are 11-2 and get three days off before they wrap up their road trip on Sunday at Phoenix. That rest matters more now than it did before Wednesday. The health of Reaves and Doncic is the biggest question heading into the weekend, and if either one is limited, Mamukelashvili's minutes and his role as a starter or bench anchor could grow.

The season numbers show why the streak has held up. Los Angeles has won seven straight by an average of about 10 points, scoring 125.3 points per game over that run and allowing 115.0. For the season, the Lakers average 122.2 points and allow 114.2. They are 6-1 away from home. The only road loss was a 112-95 defeat at Golden State, and the only other loss was a 136-129 home game against Portland. The last four wins were at Sacramento, at home against Portland, at Detroit and at Atlanta before Milwaukee, so the team has kept producing on the road. Sunday's game will show whether that depth can carry it to an eighth straight win if the two lead guards aren't at full strength.