The Chicago Bulls overwhelmed the Los Angeles Lakers 146-115 on Saturday (Sunday in PHL), spoiling LeBron James’s return from a two-week absence due to a groin injury.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, tallied 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes, but the Lakers’ defense collapsed under pressure.
“That was the worst our defense has looked maybe all year, certainly in the last three months,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said.
“I don’t know if we assumed because we had everybody back that it was just going to be like it was three weeks ago — that’s just not the way this works,” Redick added.
Chicago capitalized on 21 Lakers turnovers, led by a career-best performance from Coby White, who scored 36 points, including six three-pointers.
Australian guard Josh Giddey delivered a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists, adding eight steals — two shy of a rare quadruple-double.
Rookie Matas Buzelis added 31 points off the bench for the Bulls, who are ninth in the Eastern Conference and continuing their push for a play-in tournament berth.
Austin Reaves, returning from an ankle injury, paced the Lakers with 25 points. Rui Hachimura, also coming back from a knee issue, was limited to five points in his return.
Despite Luka Doncic’s team-high 34 points and eight three-pointers, the Lakers faltered in the second half. Doncic, recently sidelined with a sore ankle, appeared to lose steam late.
In other NBA action, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 114-108 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings, scoring 22 of his 32 points in the third quarter.
“Giannis was unstoppable in that third,” Bucks forward Brook Lopez said. “He flipped the energy and got us back in the game.”
Antetokounmpo also pulled down 17 rebounds, while Gary Trent Jr. added 11 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Milwaukee’s rally kept them within reach of the Indiana Pacers, who beat the Brooklyn Nets 108-103 to extend their win streak to four games.
Tyrese Haliburton returned from a back injury to post 16 points and 12 assists, his 10th straight double-double.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 26 points and Myles Turner contributed 22.
Trendon Watford led the Nets with 26 points off the bench, helping Brooklyn cut a 20-point deficit to one late in the fourth before the Pacers held on.
The New York Knicks snapped a two-game skid with a 122-103 win over the Washington Wizards behind Karl-Anthony Towns’ 31 points and 11 rebounds.
Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby added 27 and 23 points, respectively, for the Knicks, who sit third in the Eastern Conference.
In Atlanta, the Hawks defeated the short-handed Golden State Warriors 124-115.
Trae Young had 25 points and 10 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks, who have won six of their last eight.
Golden State was without Stephen Curry, who is recovering from a bruised pelvis sustained in Thursday’s game.
Jimmy Butler scored 25 and Moses Moody added 20 for the Warriors, who never led in the game.
