It wasn’t all the time fairly.
And the protection left lots to be desired.
However the Lakers’ 142-130 win over the Bulls on Thursday night time at Crypto.com Area will probably be memorable for one cause: Luka Doncic’s first 50-point sport with the Lakers.
Doncic led the Lakers with 51 factors on 17-of-31 taking pictures (9 of 14 on 3s), scoring his fiftieth and 51st factors on the free throw line with “M-V-P” being chanted all through the Lakers’ residence enviornment late within the fourth quarter.
Austin Reaves added 30 factors, seven assists and 5 rebounds throughout an evening the Lakers’ offense was firing on all cylinders.
The Lakers shot 55.6% from the sphere, together with 47.2% on 3s (17 of 36).
Deandre Ayton recorded a 23 point-10 rebound double-double to proceed his robust run of play.
LeBron James had 18 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists after getting back from a three-game absence.
Rui Hachimura additionally scored 15 factors, with the entire Lakers starters scoring no less than 15 factors.
What it means
The Lakers moved again as much as third within the Western Convention standings with Thursday’s victory.
They’re additionally on a four-game profitable streak, their longest run of consecutive wins since late November.
They’ve a 41-25 report.
Turning level
When Ayton grabbed an offensive rebound on the 1:09 mark within the second quarter that led to the Rui Hachimura free-throw line jumper to tie the sport at 62 apiece.
That began a 7-0 run the Lakers closed the primary half with, flowing right into a 5-0 run to begin the third quarter to place the Lakers up 72-62.
The Lakers led by as many as 22 factors within the third.
The Bulls reduce their deficit to 9 a number of instances, however the Lakers led for the rest of the sport.
MVP: Luka Doncic
This might’ve been Ayton due to the best way he managed the inside offeisvely early within the sport, giving the Lakers a lift once they wanted it.
However Doncic will get the nod after having his highest scoring sport as a Laker.
Doncic additionally had 10 rebounds and 9 assists for a close to 50-point triple-double.
Stat of the sport: 6
That was the variety of offensive rebounds Ayton grabbed towards the Bulls, which tied a season excessive.
Ayton additionally had six offensive rebounds within the Dec. 14 win over the Suns.
His presence on the offensive glass helped the Lakers outscore the Bulls 30-16 in second-chance factors.
Up subsequent
The Lakers will shut out their five-game homestand, which they’re undefeated on to date, towards the Nuggets on Saturday.
They hope to have Marcus Good again within the lineup for that matchup after he was sidelined on Thursday due to a hip contusion.
