What was supposed to be a celebratory night for the Los Angeles Lakers following the return of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura quickly turned into a nightmare. The Chicago Bulls dominated LA, handing it a 146-115 blowout loss on Saturday night. The Lakers have now lost two straight games and will head on the road looking to regroup.
Despite the loss, Luka Doncic led LA with 34 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Austin Reaves added 25 points and five assists. James, in his first game back after missing seven, played 31 minutes but finished with just 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
While the Lakers struggled, the Bulls had a night to remember. Coby White led all scorers with 36 points, while Josh Giddey made history with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists, and eight steals—a statline never before recorded in NBA history.
One of the biggest story of the night was rookie Matas Buzelis, who delivered a career-high 31 points on 12-18 shooting, including 5-10 from three-point range. In addition to his offensive explosion, Buzelis also played strong defense against James, showcasing his two-way potential.
When asked about guarding one of the greatest players of all time, the 11th overall pick embraced the challenge:
“Honestly, I was excited,” Buzelis said. “I’m a competitive guy, so I was just trying to make it tough on him. One of the best players ever, if not the best player ever. I just knew I had to come and compete.”
With the win, the Bulls take a 1-0 season series lead over the Lakers, with one final matchup set for March 26.
The Lakers (43-27) slip to 4th in the Western Conference with 12 games remaining, while the Bulls (31-40) hold steady in 9th place in the East. Both teams return to action on Monday, with LA facing the Orlando Magic on the road, while Chicago hosts the Denver Nuggets.
