Lakers tame Bulls behind efficient scoring night
The Lakers gained ground in a collective team effort that saw Los Angeles shoot a season-high 64% from three on 20 made threes and 61% overall from the floor, beating the Chicago Bulls 141–132 on Thursday.
The energetic win moves the Lakers record back to .500 at 23–23, sitting 9th in the Western Conference.
“We’re just playing together, sharing the basketball. When you play the right way, good things tend to happen,“ Anthony Davis said about how the team has played in the last couple of weeks. “We’re not being selfish; we’re not holding the ball too long. Guys are making the right plays.”
With a game that had 18 lead changes and six ties in the first quarter, the Lakers turned the page behind a 42–25 second-quarter collective effort that gave them a 16-point lead at the half, carrying over to the second half to secure the win.
D’Angelo Russell continued his scoring surge with multiple heat-check threes, knocking down eight out of 13 from behind the arc to finish with a team-high 29 points.
“Just trying to complement Bron and AD,” Russell said on his outing. “I think the aggression is allowing me to have some success.”
In his last five games, Russell has averaged 27.8 points on 56.5% shooting from three and 54.3% overall, according to Statmuse.
The heater from Russell created easier opportunities for LeBron James and Davis, who combined for 47 points.
Davis had a slow start for L.A., scoring five points and grabbing five rebounds at halftime, but picked it up by scoring 17 points in the second half. Davis finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 36 minutes.
It was announced before the game that Lebron made his 20th consecutive all-star nod, making it the most in NBA history and further adding to his endless resume.
“I’ve exceeded anything further than what I ever dreamed about—that I would be in the NBA,” LeBron said.
In his return to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s loss to the Clippers, LeBron showed a burst of fresh legs and versatility as a scorer and playmaker, with 25 points and 12 assists.
After struggling to find consistency shooting, shooting 32.7% from three in the month of January, Austin Reaves displayed a high-efficiency scoring performance with 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the floor.
As games have gone on since returning from a heel injury that kept him out of games to start the season, Jarred Vanderbilt has looked more comfortable and 100% healthy with his 94-foot defensive pressure and impact as a sneaky score for the Lakers.
“When he’s healthy, he’s a beast,” Russell said on Vanderbilt. “Any winning team needs a piece like that.”
Vanderbilt started a spark with a quick 11 points in his first nine minutes off the bench, going on to finish with 17 points, five rebounds and three steals.
The Lakers begin a six-game road trip starting this Saturday at Chase Center against the 19–23 Golden State Warriors at 5:30 p.m.
