The Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Chicago Bulls 129-118 to improve to 3-1 on an eight-game trip on Monday evening.
Luka Doncic dropped 46 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, LeBron James added 24, and Rui Hachimura with 23 points and 9-for-11 shooting.
Los Angeles have not defeated Chicago in their two-game series last season, including a 119-117 loss at the United Center on Josh Giddey’s half-court shot at the Buzzer.
Coby White tallied 23 points for the Bulls, and Ayo Dosunmu added 20, as they won four in a row and five of six overall.
The Bulls went 18 for 49 from deep, making at least 17 three pointers in their last five games.
The Lakers led by as many as 20 points, but the Bulls closed to 81-80 on Nikola Vucevic’s two foul shots with 6:42 left in the third quarter.
However, Marcus Smart responded with a three-point play for the Lakers, followed by Doncic’s two free throws, and Hachimura dropped a three-pointer to make it 89-80 with 4:38 left.
Doncic made a three and another foul shot to lift the Lakers to a 104-89 lead going into the fourth.
Los Angeles shot 56% with 46 for 82 from the field, including a 16 for 33 performance from three-point range.
Despite the loss, Chicago had six players score in double figures as Vucevic had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Giddey added 19 points.
The Lakers moved in front with a 25-6 run that started late in the first quarter and carried over to the second.
Both teams will play road games on Wednesday night, as the Lakers at Cleveland while the Bulls at Indiana.
