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LOS ANGELES — For the Chicago Bulls, it was an enjoyable L.A. homecoming.
For the Lakers – well, they anticipation the instrumentality travel to Chicago is sweeter for them.
They were torched by a fig of SoCal’s autochthonal sons connected Monday nighttime astatine Staples Center, the champion of which was DeMar DeRozan who scored 38 points arsenic the Bulls rolled, 121-103. It was a bitter extremity to what was erstwhile seen arsenic an accidental for the Lakers to make immoderate momentum aboriginal successful the season. Despite playing 12 of their archetypal 15 games astatine home, injuries and increasing pains person delivered them to an 8-7 start.
All-Star large antheral Anthony Davis was spared the last quarter, successful a sense: He was ejected with 2:20 near successful the 3rd quarter, arguing with authoritative Scott Wall arsenic play continued portion helium was attempting to necktie his near shoe.
But adjacent earlier that, the Chicagoan had an uneven performance, finishing with 20 hard-fought points against the Bulls’ double-teams and traps. The passing that served him good the erstwhile day against San Antonio didn’t output the aforesaid results, particularly since the Lakers’ shooters were conscionable 6 for 32 (18.8%) from 3-point range, 1 of their slightest awesome outputs of the season.
By contrast, the Bulls fired distant with effortless efficiency. DeRozan and cohort Zach LaVine (a UCLA product) were blistery with their jump-shots early, and helped pb Chicago to a 9 for 16 commencement from down the arc. Their shot-making mightiness person near the Lakers pining for much perimeter antiaircraft assistance – the benignant Alex Caruso provided the past fewer seasons earlier joining the Bulls successful escaped bureau this summer.
A erstwhile Compton High and USC star, DeRozan has spoken openly astir his unrequited tendency to travel backmost to his hometown, but erstwhile the Lakers opted for Westbrook, the squad was squeezed for wage headdress space. DeRozan made the saga look similar motivation, knocking down buckets adjacent nether duress with affable rolls connected the L.A. rims. LaVine (26) deed shots, but besides had a fewer dunks to disturbance memories of his days arsenic a Slam Dunk champion.
Former Lakers did good too, but portion Caruso’s archetypal crippled against his formere squad drew much attention, Lonzo Ball – the erstwhile No. 2 draught prime from Chino Hills High and UCLA – wounded them much with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. The deferential teen who showed flashes of greatness successful his archetypal 2 NBA seasons has grown into a much well-rounded rival – particularly with a remade 3-point changeable that fueled a 7-for-10 showing from deep.
Westbrook, different Bruin, led the Lakers with 25 points. Resuming his relation arsenic a get-to-the-rim lightning bolt, Westbrook’s first-half surge of 19 points helped support the Lakers wrong striking region against the astonishment early-season contenders from the Eastern Conference.
But the 3rd 4th slumps that person plagued the Lakers continued Monday: They were outscored by 12 successful the 3rd frame, getting much beingness from Davis and his midrange crippled earlier helium was ejected.
In their seventh consecutive crippled without LeBron James, the Lakers couldn’t muster overmuch of a comeback. But the last play wasn’t without 1 oregon 2 highlights acknowledgment to Talen Horton-Tucker (team-high 28 points), who got a fewer gasps retired of the sellout assemblage erstwhile helium dunked connected DeRozan.
Next comes a relentless question schedule. On Wednesday, the Lakers statesman a five-game trek that sends them done Milwaukee, Boston and New York – the opening of a 15-game agelong that includes 10 roadworthy games.
More to travel connected this story.
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