LeBron James and Rui Hachimura’s returns weren’t enough to prevent the Los Angeles Lakers from suffering a sixth loss in their last nine NBA games, as they were defeated by the Chicago Bulls 146-115 on Saturday.
James made his long-awaited comeback after missing seven games due to a groin injury, while Hachimura returned after sitting out 12 games with a knee issue. However, their efforts couldn’t stop the Lakers from falling to the Bulls, who recorded their highest score of the season to improve their record to 31-40.
Coby White led the way for Chicago with 36 points, and rookie Matas Buzelis contributed 31. Additionally, 22-year-old Australian Josh Giddey posted his 15th career triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Luka Doncic scored 34 points for Los Angeles (43-27), including 29 in the first half, while LeBron James added 17. The Lakers closed the gap to just one point, trailing 65-64 at the start of the third quarter. However, the Bulls had already built a commanding 104-89 lead by the time the fourth quarter began.
