Luka Doncic scores for the Bulls

After four wins in a row, incl prestigious against the Celtics, The Bulls lost 129-118 at home to the Lakers. Billy Donovan never found the key to slowing Luka Doncic, the author of 46 points.

The match, however, starts on cue LeBron Jamesvery aggressive from the start with 6 of the Lakers’ first 12 points. Chicago starts well thanks to Jalen Smith and Matas Bouzelis, and Los Angeles is 4 points behind at the first timeout (16-12). But the dynamic changes: Doncic starts hitting 3-pointers, Rui Hachimura makes a big impact coming off the bench, and the Lakers end the quarter with a 9-0 run to take the lead (35-31).

This series turns into 25-6, and the Lakers are completely suffocating Chicago. LeBron continues to make baskets, while Vanderbilt, Hayes and Hachimura dominate the defense with blocks, rebounds and rebounds. On the other side of the field, Dončić brilliantly orchestrates the game (6 assists in the quarter), and the Lakers force 12 turnovers in the first half and score easily on the counterattack. Despite the small reaction of the Bulls at the end of the period, Los Angeles easily controlled to reach the break with a 13-point lead (69-56).

Jackson Hayes hosts the show

Coming back from the locker room, Chicago came back very strong with a barrage of 3-point shots against a struggling Lakers defense. The Bulls go 29-12 and return to one unit (81-80) through Nikola Vucevic. Marcus Smart goes for the and-1, then Rui Hachimura crashes out from wide. Lakers go 8-0 in fresh air (89-80). Doncic is on cloud nine with complete control of the tempo, and after him, as well as after Hachimura, the Lakers are back on track: 104-89.

All that remains is to fight with this lead, but Vucevic is in pain under the panel, and his tap brings the Bulls back to -8 (114-106). There are five minutes left in the game, and the United center believes in a robbery. Besides Doncic making two threes in a row, then Jackson Hayes steals the ball and goes for a competitive dunk by passing the ball between his legs! The Lakers regained their 14-point lead, and this time the Bulls didn’t come back. Final score: 129 – 118 for the Lakers, who are in the middle of an eight-game road trip!

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Everyone has their half time. The Lakers hit a “one-two punch”, LeBron James scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half, while Luka Doncic scored 20 points in the 3rd quarter alone. While they await the return of Austin Reaves, the Lakers are doing the best they can in this period with their 4th win in five games.

Hachimura, The X factor. The Japanese is getting better and better in this role of the sixth man, and last night he was extremely efficient with 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.