It was unfortunate for the Los Angeles Lakers to lose to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. In the last seconds of the game, Chicago’s Josh Giddey made a 3-pointer from half-court to help the team overcome the Lakers 119-117. Following the game, LeBron James faced criticism for his conduct in the later portion of the fourth quarter.
James didn’t score as much against the Bulls. He ended the bout with 17 points, five rebounds, 12 assists and two steals. The 6-foot-9 forward shot 40% from the field and didn’t make any of his five attempts from beyond the arc. Even though it wasn’t his best outing, the Lakers still managed to control the game in the second half. The Lakers led as much as 18 points in the latter half.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers were up 115-113 with 7.1 seconds left. However, James’ inbound pass was stolen by Giddey, who passed the ball to Coby White for a clutch shot from the 3-point range. However, Los Angeles got a chance to get the lead back when Austin Reaves drove to the basket for a layup. This left only 3.3 seconds on the clock and forced the Australian guard to attempt the game-winner.
After the Lakers’ loss, longtime NBA analyst Skip Bayless criticized James for his unintelligent error during one of the game’s crucial moments.
“LeBron’s careless in-bounds turnover opened the door for a quick 3 that put the Lakers in jeopardy,” Bayless posted on X.
LeBron's careless in-bounds turnover opened the door for a quick 3 that put the Lakers in jeopardy.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 28, 2025
Luckily for Bayless, James knew what he had done incorrectly during the game. Following the heartbreaking defeat, the four-time champion spoke to the media and accepted responsibility for his expensive turnover.
“Horrible turnover by myself, bad miscommunication play before that.”
LeBron: "Horrible turnover by myself, bad miscommunication play before that. … Tip your hat if someone makes a game-winner from half court."
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) March 28, 2025
LeBron James’ alley-oop from Luka Doncic went viral
LeBron James and Luka Doncic are gradually developing their on-court chemistry. Whenever they’re sharing the court, Doncic is usually the ball handler while James roams around, being an off-ball threat for the Lakers’ offense.
Against the Bulls, the duo showed off what they can do on the court. The Slovenian star got a screen from big man Jaxson Hayes, setting him free from his defender. With a mismatch, the help defense (Patrick Williams) on the left side of the floor paid more attention to Doncic.
This led to an open-cutting lane for James, who ran by the baseline to catch the lob pass from the five-time All-Star. The jam got the people energized and it was posted on X (formerly Twitter).
LUKA — LEBRON LOB. 🔥🔥🔥
(VIA @LADEig)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 28, 2025
Fans should expect more plays like this as the postseason closes in. The Lakers will benefit from their developed chemistry in the playoffs.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
