The Chicago Bulls (31-40) rode a strong team effort and steadily pulled away in the second half to secure a 146-115 upset over the Los Angeles Lakers (43-27) on March 23.
Los Angeles Lakers Top Performers:
Luka Doncic 34 PTS | 8 REB | 6 AST | 45.6 FPS
Doncic came out firing in the first half, putting up nearly 30 points and hitting 7 three-pointers. However, he struggled to maintain that same level of play in the second half. He remains an elite all-around contributor but his turnover issues have become increasingly problematic, committing 7 today and 5 or more in eight of his last ten games this month.
LeBron James 17 PTS | 6 REB | 3 STL | 34.2 FPS
James missed his last seven games due to a groin injury but still managed to put up a solid stat line in his return. However, he was also responsible for 5 turnovers and a subpar performance at the free-throw line. While he may still need time to fully adjust, he appeared to be in good shape and handled significant minutes. That said, the upcoming back-to-back games could mean he’ll miss some of them.
Austin Reaves 25 PTS | 2 REB | 5 AST | 32.9 FPS
Reaves experienced a slight decline in usage following James’ return but still maintained his typical production, recording his fifth-consecutive game with 20+ points and 5 assists. He remained effective on offense, though he wasn’t able to make the same impact on the defensive end.
Jaxson Hayes 10 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL | 20.8 FPS
Hayes continues to put up some points and should hold onto his starting role but his limited overall production doesn’t justify a roster spot.
Jordan Goodwin 4 PTS | 3 REB | 1 STL | 12.1 FPS
Goodwin’s role has shrunk significantly with the return of key players, and his lack of offensive success lately suggests his output will likely stay minimal, making him a drop candidate.
Chicago Bulls Top Performers:
Josh Giddey 15 PTS | 17 AST | 8 STL | 74.5 FPS
Giddey has missed four of the last five games but has remained consistently strong in category formats this month, even nearly pulling off a quadruple-double. His offensive game has also shown clear improvement lately, although he hasn’t been as productive from the line. Defensively, he’s been exceptional, recording a total of 11 stocks in just two games.
Coby White 36 PTS | 6 3PM | 2 STL | 45.6 FPS
White has continued his offensive surge, recording 35+ points in his last two games while also posting 20+ points in 12-straight contests. He’s been incredibly efficient this month, shooting 50% from the field and nearly 90% from the free-throw line.
Nikola Vucevic 12 PTS | 12 REB | 5 AST | 41.9 FPS
Vucevic had a sluggish offensive start to the month but has since picked up the pace, netting 24 points in each of his past two games. Though he wasn’t able to keep that momentum going today, he compensated with this third double-digit rebounding performance in his last four games and continues to expand his game, contributing more as a playmaker in recent outings.
Matas Buzelis 31 PTS | 5 3PM | 1 STL | 35.9 FPS
Buzelis overcame his recent shooting struggles and delivered his best scoring game of the season. He also hit 5 three-pointers today, after shaking off a slow start and shooting just 25% in his previous ten games this month. On the downside, his effectiveness in other areas has declined lately, but he can still contribute with some defensive stats.
Zach Collins 9 PTS | 3 REB | 4 AST | 23.6 FPS
Collins’ fantasy potential has been curbed by his limited playing time, and with Vucevic and Williams both active, his situation is unlikely to improve soon. But with Jones sidelined, he was able to make decent contributions in multiple areas.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Rui Hachimura 5 PTS | 2 REB | 1 STL
Rui showed plenty of rust in his return after missing 12 consecutive games and with minutes restriction in place for several games, his production is expected to remain minimal for the time being.
