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-overtime home game.
Doncic scored 34 points in 32 minutes alongside having eight rebounds and six assists. That was not nearly enough to inspire the Lakers to victory as they lost 146-115 to the Bulls.
The five-time All-Star had his shortcomings on the night as well as he had seven turnovers to his name. James, meanwhile had five.
Doncic appears to have recognized the issue as well.
“I think they scored a lot of transition points, especially on my turnovers,” Doncic admitted. “Got to do that better. I mean, I can’t be losing the ball seven times. That’s way too many for me.”
It appears to have been part of the Bulls’ strategy, according to Josh Giddey, who posted 15 points, 17 assists, 10 rebounds and eight steals — two away from registering a quadruple-double.
“We made (Luka) play in a crowd and in front of (four) other guys,” Giddey explained. “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,” he added.
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.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic drives the ball against Bulls guard Josh Giddey.
Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The Lakers have received a lot of praise in recent times, especially when Doncic and James have been on the court together.
Their blowout loss to the Bulls, however, showed that there are still a lot of areas where they need to work on if they are to have a deep playoff run this season.
