Luka Doncic remains optimistic about the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason chances despite a 146-115 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. The All-Star guard believes the team is in a good position as long as they stay healthy.
“I think we’re in a great spot. Obviously, today wasn’t a good game for us,” Doncic said postgame, via Lakers Nation. “But I think we are in a great spot, and we have to battle every game to not get in the Play-In [Tournament] and try to get the highest seed we can.”
Doncic led the Lakers with 34 points, including 29 in the first half, but Chicago’s high-powered offense proved too much. Coby White scored 36 points while Matas Buzelis added a career-high 31, fueling the Bulls to a dominant victory.
LeBron James returned after missing seven games and finished with 17 points, while Austin Reaves contributed 25. However, the Lakers’ defense struggled, allowing a season-high 146 points as the Bulls shot 58.3% from the field.
Despite the loss, Doncic emphasized that the first game back with returning players can be difficult. “It’s always great to have people back, but that first game is always tough, I could tell. And they made a lot of shots,” he said.
Chicago pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 39-27 before sealing the win with 42 more in the fourth. The Bulls have now won seven of their last nine, strengthening their hold on the ninth seed in the East.
Looking ahead, Doncic wants the Lakers to take lessons from this loss without dwelling on it. “Not forget about this game but learn from it,” he said. “At the end of the game, if you lose by one or you lose by 40, it’s a loss. So it doesn’t really matter how much you lose by.”
The Lakers, now 43-27 and fourth in the Western Conference, must quickly regroup with a tough road trip approaching. With playoff seeding on the line, Doncic and his teammates aim to avoid the Play-In Tournament and secure a top-six finish.
