LeBron James led the way with 25 points and 12 assists, celebrating his historic selection to a record 20th NBA All-Star team, as the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 141-132 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.
D’Angelo Russell was a standout, hitting eight 3-pointers to score 29 points. Anthony Davis contributed 22 points, while Austin Reaves added 20 points and eight assists. Jarred Vanderbilt also had a notable performance with a season-high 17 points. The Lakers shot an impressive 60.9% from the field, marking their fourth win in the last six games.
After an extraordinary second quarter where the Lakers shot 15-18, they amassed a season-high 112 points through three quarters. This strong start helped them withstand the Bulls’ 39-point rally in the fourth quarter. The game’s final score set a season-high for both teams.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls Updates
James commented on the team’s cohesive play, noting the comfort and capability of the players in making shots and plays.
“We’re just playing the right way,” James said. “Guys are feeling very comfortable out there. We’ve got guys that can make shots. We’ve got guys that can make plays. Doesn’t matter who’s shooting.”
Despite the loss, the Bulls saw DeMar DeRozan scoring 32 points, with Coby White adding 25 points. Nikola Vucevic and former Lakers guard Alex Caruso contributed 20 and 17 points, respectively.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls Updates
Bulls coach Billy Donovan pointed to the Lakers’ success at the foul line and their efficient shooting as key factors in Chicago’s defeat. He also lamented the turnovers and the second quarter’s impact on the game’s outcome.
“We certainly dug ourselves a hole,” Donovan said. “The difference in the game was the foul line for them. We fouled them too much. They shot astronomically well. The turnovers, and the close of the second quarter, really hurt.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls Updates
Russell’s future with the Lakers remains uncertain ahead of the trade deadline. Despite his expiring contract being highly moveable, Los Angeles is contemplating whether a trade would benefit their season, especially given Russell’s recent high-caliber performances.
“My confidence is through the roof, and I’m going to keep it there,” Russell said. “I just try to complement Bron and AD. I know they can get us out of games single-handedly, so just try to complement them, if that’s me shooting, facilitating, whatever that may be.”
James, now the first player in NBA history to be selected for 20 All-Star games, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, reflected on his career, expressing humility and pride in his achievements. He also mentioned surpassing Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer last season.
“I mean, I’ve exceeded expectations in my career, so it’s just humbling,” James said. “It’s very cool to be able to continue to have these compliments throughout your career, but I’ve exceeded anything than I ever dreamed that I would be in the NBA, and I did that a long time ago. Everything else is just kind of extra credit.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls Updates
In other news, Bulls coach Donovan mentioned that star guard Zach LaVine, previously linked with trade rumors to the Lakers, will be out for at least another week due to an ankle injury.
Looking ahead, the Bulls will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, while the Lakers are set to play the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
