COBY White, MatasBuzelis and Josh Giddey led the hot-shooting Chicago Bulls to a 146-115 win over the host Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila), spoiling the returns of LeBron James and RuiHachimura.
White finished with 36 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field, making 6-of-9 attempts from 3-point range for Chicago. Buzelis, a rookie, added 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting. Giddey perhaps one-upped them both, notching his 15th career triple-double by tallying 15 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds. Giddey was also a decisive factor on defense with eight steals.
Luka Doncic led the way for the Lakers (43-27), scoring 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 8 threes. Doncic scored 29 in the first half to keep it close briefly. Austin Reaves added 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while James chipped in 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting. He added six rebounds and four assists.
James played in his first game since leaving the Lakers’ 111-101 loss in Boston on March 8 with a groin injury. The Lakers went 3-4 in James’ absence, and they have lost six of their last nine overall.
In other games, it was the Pacers 108, Nets 103; Hawks 124, Warriors 115; Bucks 114, Kings 108; and Knicks 122, Wizards 103.
Pacers 108, Nets 103
Tyrese Haliburton returned to the Indiana lineup from a three-game absence to put up 16 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, and the Pacers rallied after nearly coughing up a 20-point lead to hold off Brooklyn in Indianapolis.
Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 26 points while Obi Toppin scored 10 points off the bench as one of five Indiana scorers in double figures. Myles Turner finished with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Bennedict Mathurin went for 13 points off the bench.
Trendon Watford, who was ejected from Thursday’s matchup between these teams after a scuffle with Turner, returned to score 26 points. Cameron Johnson had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, while Nic Claxton recorded nine points and 10 rebounds.
Hawks 124, Warriors 115
Trae Young scored 25 points and posted his 41st double-double of the season to help Atlanta defeat visiting Golden State.
The Warriors played without leading scorer Stephen Curry (24.2 points per game), who sustained a left pelvic contusion Thursday. The Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu notched 22 points and 12 rebounds for his 22nd double-double. Atlanta has won six of its last eight and holds a 1 1/2-game lead over Orlando in the race for the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Warriors were led by Jimmy Butler III’s 25 points and eight assists. Moses Moody scored 20 and BrandinPodziemski added 19 points and eight rebounds. – Field Level Media
