With both Luka Doncic and LeBron James returning, the expectation was for the Los Angeles Lakers to get themselves back on track with a routine win over the Chicago Bulls.
Instead, the Lakers ended up allowing 146 points, tied for their most ever in a non-OT home game.
Doncic scored 34 points in 32 minutes alongside having 8 rebounds and 6 assists. That was not nearly enough to inspire the Lakers to victory as they lost 146-115 to the Bulls.
Doncic had his shortcomings on the night as well as he had seven turnovers to his name. LeBron had five.
Doncic appears to have recognized the issue as well. After the game, the Lakers star said: "I think they scored a lot of transition points, especially on my turnovers. Got to do that better. I mean, I can't be losing the ball seven times. That's way too many for me."
Luka Doncic: "I think they scored a lot of transition points, especially on my turnovers. Got to do that better. I mean, I can't be losing the ball seven times. That's way too many for me."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) March 23, 2025
It appears to have been part of the Bulls' strategy. Josh Giddey, who was two steals away from registering a Quadruple Treble against the Lakers, said after the game: "We made (Luka) play in a crowd and in front of (four) other guys. Once we did that we were able to get out in transition offensively and blow the game wide open. It was kind of a cat-and-mouse game. You've got to make him see bodies in front of him. I was trying to contest from the rear and I thought Vooch (Nikola Vučević) did a great job in drops, stunting him and making him think twice; we just tried to be there early and show him bodies."
That strategy certainly worked for the Bulls on the night and it is something that the Lakers will have to take a look at coming out of the game.
The Lakers have received a lot of praise in recent times, especially when Doncic and LeBron have been on the court together.
Their blowout loss to the Bulls showed that there are still a lot of areas where they need to work on, if they are to have a successful playoff run this season.
Related: Lakers Match Unwanted Record in Loss to Bulls Following LeBron James' Return
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 8:46 AM.