Chicago Bulls get off to a slow start and pay dearly in a 121-110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers

The Chicago Bulls surely must have known the Los Angeles Lakers were coming to the United Center for revenge, especially after LaVine & co. won at the latter’s homecourt last weekend. Despite that knowledge, the Bulls still didn’t look prepared early on and paid dearly for it in a 121-110 shellacking that dropped their record to 36-40.

Lackluster start

The Lakers came prepared and eager to exact payback, and it showed as they led by as much as 17 points in the first quarter before settling for a 31-20 advantage. The Lakers’ defense keyed in on the Bulls’ prolific wingmen, keeping them scoreless in the first.

In fact, DeMar DeRozan didn’t score until the nine-minute mark of the second quarter, while Zach LaVine only registered his first points at the six-minute mark of that same stretch. 

“They adjusted to doubling pretty much everything,” LaVine said. “It slowed us up. I think we played really slow. They put us on our heels early. Give the credit to the defense.”

DeRozan finished with just 22 points while LaVine had 16—well below his average of 28.8 points this month. Nikola Vucevic led Bulls' scorers with 29 and added 12 rebounds. Anthony Davis poured in 38 points for the Lakers and LeBron James seems to be recovering well as he dropped 25.

Austin Reaves gets one over Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley pulled off the “too small” gesture on the Lakers’ star LeBron James last Sunday. On Wednesday, the Lakers got him back with Austin Reaves doing the honors after scoring a floater in the fourth.

With regards to reciprocating the gesture that Beverley flashed at James, Reaves said it was nothing personal, but just gamesmanship.

“It wasn’t something I thought about doing all game,” Reaves said. “But right time, right situation. Me and Pat have a good relationship. I respect him. It’s just me competing.”