By Jaina Pallasigui
Eagle News Service
LOS ANGELES (Eagle News) — LeBron James returned to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup as they hosted the Chicago Bulls in one of the last home games of the regular season. James had missed the previous 13 games due to a foot injury and Laker fans were eagerly anticipating his comeback.
James has been a key player for the Lakers this season. His absence was keenly felt as they struggled to maintain their position in the Western Conference standings. With James back on the court, Lakers fans were hoping for a return to form, and a much-needed win to boost their playoff hopes.
The Bulls, however, had other plans. Led by their star player, Zach Lavine, the Bulls were determined to take down the Lakers, even with James back in the lineup.
The first quarter was a tight affair, with the Bulls taking a slim three-point lead at the end of the period. James had a turnover in his first possession of the game, but he quickly got back into the rhythm of things as the game progressed.
The Bulls began to pull away in the second quarter with a 12-0 run that put the Lakers on their heels.
Despite clutch baskets from Lakers Austin Reaves, the Bulls kept responding with multiple 3-pointers to keep their lead in double digits.
Lavine stepped up to lead the way for the Bulls, who led by as much as 20 points. However, an ejection of Nikola Vucevic paved the way for James and Dennis Schroeder to sink several free-throws, which allowed the Lakers to come back within eight points of the Bulls.
Although James put up a solid performance with 19 points, the Lakers struggled to keep pace with the Bulls’ high-powered offense as five players scored in double digits.
The Lakers missed several three-pointers and had multiple turnovers. This allowed the Bulls to dominate the second half and earn a 118-108 victory.
The win gives the Bulls a boost of confidence as they continue to fight for a spot in the playoffs while the Lakers will look to regroup and make a push in the remaining games of the regular season.
It remains to be seen how the return of James will impact the Lakers’ performance in the weeks to come, but his presence on the court is sure to be a positive for the team.
(Eagle News Service)