The Chicago Bulls played their fifth game in seven days on a six-game Western Conference road trip, facing the Los Angeles Lakers, who had just welcomed back LeBron James and Rui Hachimura while battling for homecourt advantage in the West.
Despite Luka Dončić scoring 34 points and James contributing 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists, along with Austin Reaves’ efficient 25-point performance, the Bulls dominated the Lakers with a 146-115 victory.
Chicago shot an impressive 58.3% from the field and 46.3% from beyond the arc while making 20 free throws. They outrebounded Los Angeles 42-35 and forced 21 turnovers while only committing 10 themselves. It was a collective team effort, but three standout individual performances highlighted the Bulls’ potential future core.
As the 2025 offseason approaches, Chicago seems to have three cornerstone players: Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Matas Buzelis. Giddey is set for a major contract extension, with White also due for a new deal after the 2025-26 season.
Each of the three delivered standout performances against the Lakers:
- Josh Giddey nearly made history with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists, and eight steals, coming close to a rare quadruple-double. Since the All-Star break, the 22-year-old has averaged 22.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 2.5 combined steals/blocks on 53/52/85 shooting splits.
- Coby White continued his scoring surge with 36 points on 12-of-17 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three. He has now scored at least 21 points in 12 straight games, averaging 28.7 points per game and winning consecutive Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards—something only Michael Jordan had previously accomplished for the Bulls.
- Matas Buzelis had a breakout game, scoring a career-high 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-10 from three. The 6-foot-10 rookie showcased his versatility, scoring off the dribble, on catch-and-shoot attempts, and attacking the rim.
Buzelis’ standout performance further solidified his growing potential as a future franchise centerpiece for the Bulls.