Deandre Ayton highlighted the Lakers’ recent performance, saying, “We’re playing really hard, but we’re playing with a sense of urgency and we’re playing together.”
On the team’s focus, Ayton explained, “We’re emphasizing competitiveness. We’re competing in every aspect. Effort, 50/50 chances, and just really attacking the ball on both ends and closing out these possessions.”
He added, “Teams have been winning the scrap game and that effort game throughout the season, so we’ve tightened it up to where that’s become a thing of us.”
In Thursday’s 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena, Ayton contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season.
Luka Doncic led the charge with 51 points, nine assists, and 10 rebounds, scoring 17 points in the decisive third quarter. Austin Reaves added 30 points as the Lakers used a dominant third period to break the game open.
LeBron James returned from a three-game absence to score 18 points, hitting all five of his third-quarter field goal attempts and helping Los Angeles pull ahead.
The Lakers shot 56 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free-throw line, while Chicago converted 54 percent of its shots and 81 percent from the charity stripe. Josh Giddey scored 27 points and Matas Buzelis added 22 for the short-handed Bulls.
Los Angeles has now won four straight games, its longest streak since a seven-game run in November, and moved ahead of the idle Houston Rockets into third place in the Western Conference. The Bulls dropped to 27-39 and will visit the LA Clippers on Friday.
