The Los Angeles Lakers are left picking up the pieces of a stunning 119-117 loss in Windy City Thursday night against the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers failed to take care of a 16-point lead entering the fourth quarter, allowing the Bulls to score 44 points in the final period.
Los Angeles was still ahead by five points with under 13 seconds remaining in regulation but a terrible finish by LeBron James and the Lakers got capitalized on by the Bulls, who stole a win from the jaws of defeat, thanks to a barrage of late-game 3-pointers, including Josh Giddey’s half-court basket at the buzzer.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves shared his thoughts on the poor late-game management by Los Angeles that led to an improbable come-from-behind victory by Giddey and the Bulls.
“It sucks,” said Reaves, who had 30 points on 10-for-17 shooting. “We probably had a high-percentage chance of winning after my layup went in. There’s not many half-court buzzer-beaters to lose a game. And it’s just, it’s frustrating.”
Los Angeles Lakers let their guards down in the fourth vs. Bulls
The Bulls pounced on Los Angeles’ leaky defense in the fourth period. Chicago shot an incredible 78.9 percent from the field in the final period, while also going 11-for-14 from behind the arc.
Reaves had a solid performance in the loss to the Bulls, as he paced the Lakers with 30 points on an efficient 10-for-17 shooting from the floor.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic came up with 25 points. LeBron James, who had a big blunder down the stretch that led to a crucial 3-pointer by the Bulls, generated 17 points.
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