The Lakers Seek Revenge Against the Bulls After a Blowout Loss
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls with one thing on their mind—revenge. Just days ago, the Bulls steamrolled them with a crushing 146-115 defeat. Now, the Lakers have a chance to even the score as they aim for their second consecutive win after a thrilling 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
A Tight Western Conference Race
Every game is crucial for the Lakers as they battle for playoff positioning. They currently hold a 44-28 record, the same as the fifth-place Memphis Grizzlies. With the Denver Nuggets just one game ahead in third place and the Houston Rockets sitting 2.5 games ahead in second, the Lakers are in a tight race. Every win matters, making this matchup against the Bulls even more significant.
However, they’ll have to do it without forward Rui Hachimura, who is out due to left patellar tendinopathy, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The Lakers will need their key players to step up in his absence.
Lakers’ Resurgence: A Tale of Two Halves
Los Angeles got off to a rocky start in this game. The first quarter saw them struggling on both ends of the floor, trailing 16-7 early. By the end of the first, the deficit had grown to 32-22, as the Lakers shot a dismal 37.5% from the field compared to Chicago’s 50%. The Bulls were also dominant on the boards, holding a 15-10 rebounding advantage.
But the Lakers weren’t about to go down without a fight. They adjusted defensively in the second quarter, switching to a zone defense that proved effective. Slowly but surely, they chipped away at the Bulls’ lead, pulling within 38-36 at the 8:34 mark. By halftime, Los Angeles had completely turned the tide, outshooting Chicago 48.9% to 43.1% and taking a narrow 59-58 lead. Austin Reaves and Jaxson Hayes led the scoring charge with 14 points each, while LeBron James contributed 10 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
Third-Quarter Dominance
Coming out of the break, the Lakers wasted no time asserting control. They opened the third quarter on an 11-4 run, quickly extending their lead to 70-62. Luka Doncic and Reaves continued to make an impact, both reaching 21 points as the Lakers held Chicago to just 17 points in the quarter. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, L.A. had built a commanding 91-75 lead, shooting 51.5% from the field compared to the Bulls' 38.4%.
One of the game’s biggest highlight plays came in this stretch when Doncic drove into the lane off a pick-and-roll. Instead of lobbing to Jaxson Hayes as expected, he spotted LeBron James cutting along the baseline. Doncic delivered a perfect alley-oop pass, and James hammered it down for an electrifying dunk that had the crowd roaring.
Chicago’s Late Push and L.A.'s Clutch Play
Despite trailing by as many as 16, the Bulls weren’t finished. They went on an 8-0 run to trim the deficit to 97-89 with 7:58 left in the fourth. Then, with just over two minutes remaining, they had closed the gap even further, trailing only 111-110. But the Lakers didn’t panic.
In a clutch moment, Austin Reaves delivered once again. With just 2.65 seconds left, he sank a contested short-range bank shot to push the Lakers’ lead to 113-110, capping off his 26-point performance and securing the win for Los Angeles.
Where to Watch and Injury Updates
For fans looking to catch the game live, it will be broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet, with a start time of 5 p.m. Pacific Time. A live stream is also available on Fubo (free trial included).
Injury Report:
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Lakers: Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) and Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery recovery) are out.
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Bulls: Coby White (right toe sesamoiditis) is probable. Lonzo Ball (right wrist sprain), Josh Giddey (right flexor carpi ulnaris tendinopathy), and Nikola Vučević (right midback strain) are questionable. Ayo Dosunmu (left shoulder surgery) and Tre Jones (left midfoot sprain) are out.
The Lakers' revenge tour is off to a strong start, and with the playoffs fast approaching, every win adds momentum. Can they keep it rolling? Stay tuned for more action as the season heats up!
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