LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers made a comeback to the court after a two-week absence, but it was not a successful return. The Lakers suffered a heavy 146-115 defeat to the Chicago Bulls, giving up their highest points total of the season. Luka Dončić shone with 34 points, while James had 17 points in 31 minutes of play.
The standout performance of the game came from Bulls guard Josh Giddey, who came close to achieving a quadruple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists, and eight steals. This would have been the first quadruple-double in nearly three decades in the NBA.
The Lakers struggled with turnovers, totaling 21 in the game. Chicago’s sharp shooting led them to a 58.3% field goal percentage and 19 made 3-pointers out of 41 attempts.
James had been sidelined with a groin strain since March 8 but was cleared to play against the Bulls. The Lakers have had a mixed run of results in his absence, heavily relying on Dončić’s performance. With only 12 games left in the regular season, Los Angeles is hoping for a quick return to full strength before the playoffs.
In his 58 games prior to the match, James had been averaging 25 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. The Lakers currently hold a 43-27 record and occupy the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings.