Coby White and Matas Buzelis powered the Chicago Bulls to a commanding 146-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, spoiling LeBron James’ return from injury.
White exploded for 36 points while hitting six 3-pointers, and Buzelis added a career-high 31 points as Chicago (31-40) overwhelmed Los Angeles (43-27) with relentless scoring. The Bulls shot 58.3% from the field and dropped 39 points in the third quarter to pull away for good.
Josh Giddey nearly recorded a quadruple-double, finishing with 15 points, 17 assists, 10 rebounds, and eight steals. Chicago’s balanced attack saw eight players score at least nine points despite being without injured starter Tre Jones.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 34 points, including 29 in the first half, but his efforts weren’t enough to keep up with the Bulls’ offensive onslaught. Austin Reaves contributed 25 points, while James, playing for the first time in seven games, managed 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting.
Los Angeles struggled defensively, allowing a season-high 146 points. Despite getting Rui Hachimura back from a knee injury, the Lakers showed little resistance as Chicago shredded their defense throughout the game.
The contest remained close at halftime, with the Bulls leading 65-62, but White erupted for 12 third-quarter points to extend the gap. Chicago outscored Los Angeles 39-27 in the period and followed up with 42 more in the fourth to seal the dominant win.
With the victory, the Bulls secured their seventh win in their last nine games, strengthening their hold on the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Lakers, now fourth in the West, have dropped three of their last five and must regroup quickly as they push for playoff positioning.
