Doncic dominates in Lakers Windy City victory

CHICAGO — A winter storm may have covered Chicago with single-digit temperatures on Monday night, but the Lakers entered the United Center scorching hot. 

From the moment LeBron James made the first shot of the game, a heavily contested fadeaway jumper over Bulls big man Jalen Smith, it was clear it would be one of those offensive nights for Los Angeles, who rode a hot shooting night to a 129-118 win over the Bulls.

James packed in his points early, scoring 20 points in the opening 16 ½ minutes to give the Lakers a 14-point midway through the second quarter and 69-56 lead going into halftime. 

After finding balance as a scorer and distributor in the first half, in which he had 17 points and eight assists in the opening two quarters, Luka Doncic picked up where James left off. 

Doncic scored 20 points in the third, helping the Lakers keep pace with a Bulls team that was having a shooting night of their own.

And when the Lakers needed a release valve to ease the offensive burden that Doncic (46 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds) and James (24 points) carried, Rui Hachimura was once again there to provide support. 

Hachimura finished with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting (4-of-5 from three), carrying his hot shooting from Saturday’s win in Dallas, in which he shot 4-of-7 from deep, into the Windy City. 

As a team, the Lakers shot 56.1 percent from the field and 48.5 percent from deep (16-of-33) and scored at least 34 points in the opening three quarters before cruising to their fourth win in the last five games. 

The Bulls, led by Coby White’s 23 points, six assists and five rebounds, shot 18-of-49 from three but were undone by their giveaways. 

Chicago’s 15 turnovers directly led to 23 Lakers’ points. 

What does it mean?

The Lakers, who improved to 28-17 with the victory, will have the opportunity to go on just their second three-game winning streak since December started. 

Turning point

There were multiple points where it felt like the game’s momentum swung.

And if the Lakers lost, the 8-0 run they allowed the Bulls to close out the first half with, and Chicago’s 11-5 advantage to open the third quarter, would’ve been one of those. It helped the Bulls cut what was once a game-best 20-point Lakers’ lead to one (81-80) midway through the third.

But back-to-back threes from Hachimura in the third gave the Lakers a 92-83 lead with four minutes left in the quarter. 

The Lakers led by at least five points for the remainder of the game. 

MVP: Luka Doncic

Doncic controlled the game from the opening tip in a way only truly elite players in the league are capable of. 

It was arguably his best performance of the season.

Stat of the game: 10 turnover

The Lakers’ defensive effort in the second quarter, in which they had 10 takeaways, proved to be a difference-maker.

Chicago’s 10 turnovers in the second were the most they’ve had in a quarter this season.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Up next

The Lakers will travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

It’ll be James’ lone regular season game back at Rocket Arena this season after spending 11 of his record-setting 23 NBA seasons, including the first seven, with the Cavaliers.