Jaxson Hayes credited the Los Angeles Lakers’ intensity and cohesion after their 129-118 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday at the United Center. “Everyone was just flying around and just covering for each other all night and just playing with a lot of energy and just everyone came ready to play today,” Hayes said.
On a highlight-reel moment, Hayes described his between-the-legs dunk following a steal. “I just got a steal and I seen him out the corner of my eye for a second. Then I see Rui running in front of him. So I knew he wasn’t running with me. And so I was just like, freak it. I’m gonna try it real quick.”
Hayes explained that the move was something he had practiced since high school. “I remember just trying it like in middle school and stuff and then I got to like my sophomore year… I was actually dunking. I was like I’m going to try it real quick and got it. So now I’ve just been doing it.”
Reflecting on the risks, Hayes admitted he nearly got caught on the rim. “I thought I was about to get hung by the rim so bad and I thought I was about to get yanked out the game right away. Luckily God was on my side and got that ball over the rim.”
Hayes praised Luka Doncic’s performance, which included 46 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds. “That guy’s pretty good at basketball. He made some real tough shots and just he was playing great today,” Hayes said. He also noted the energy generated by Doncic’s flashy passes. “Obviously when you got a playmaker like that… you just got to give him that chance to go.”
Rui Hachimura’s contributions off the bench were another focus for Hayes. “He added scoring and shooting to the bench, but yeah, I feel like he’s been killing it and just getting back into his rhythm right now. Just happy to have him back out there,” he said.
Hayes emphasized the team’s defensive focus as well. “Creating turnovers was something you guys did well throughout the game,” a reporter noted, and Hayes responded, “Yeah, one in the steal… everyone came ready to play.”
The Lakers improved to 3-1 on their eight-game road trip with the win, shooting 56% from the field, including 16-of-33 from three-point range. Despite trailing briefly in the third quarter, the team executed a 25-6 run to regain control, led by key contributions from LeBron James, Rui, and Marcus Smart.
Both teams will face road games Wednesday, with Los Angeles visiting Cleveland and Chicago traveling to Indiana.
