Luka Doncic Scores 51 Points As Surging Lakers Rout Bulls In Lebron's Return

He didn’t miss it this time.

Luka Doncic recorded his first 50-point crippled of nan play Thursday, hitting 2 precocious free throws arsenic nan crowd astatine Crypto.com Arena showered him pinch “MVP” chants successful nan 4th quarter. Doncic checked retired pinch 1:41 remaining to a opinionated ovation pinch 51 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists to lead nan Lakers to a 142-130 win complete nan Chicago Bulls.

The Lakers (41-25) jumped into 3rd spot successful nan Western Conference pinch their seventh triumph successful their past 8 games, climbing from sixth successful conscionable 1 week down Doncic’s brilliance. The NBA’s starring scorer has averaged 40.2 points successful nan past 4 games, each wins. Doncic had a chance astatine 50 points successful a crippled against nan Minnesota Timberwolves successful October, but missed a precocious free propulsion that forced him to settee for 49 points.

LeBron James returned aft missing 3 games because of elbow and hep contusions he sustained against nan Denver Nuggets connected March 5. He vanished pinch 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Austin Reaves had 30 points and 7 assists, surpassing 5,000 points for his career. Center Deandre Ayton held down a short-handed large man rotation pinch 23 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lakers were without starting defender Marcus Smart (right hep contusion) and backup centers Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar backmost strain). Smart has been playing done nan wounded for respective games, but pinch a six-game roadworthy travel starting adjacent week, “we request it to calm down,” coach JJ Redick said. The coach expected Smart to beryllium disposable Saturday erstwhile nan Lakers play nan Nuggets astatine Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers gave up a 12-3 tally to extremity nan first 4th and led nan struggling Bulls (27-39) by only 5 astatine halftime. James helped springiness them nan breathing room going into nan locker room arsenic he scored his first points of nan crippled pinch 54 seconds near successful nan first half. His three-point play sparked a speedy five-point tally to extremity nan half, which ended pinch a dunk from Rui Hachimura.

Lakers prima LeBron James, center, drives betwixt Chicago’s Rob Dillingham, left, and Matas Buzelis during nan 2nd half Thursday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

James came live successful nan 3rd quarter, opening pinch his dunk disconnected a hit-ahead walk from Doncic. He returned nan favour by diving retired of bounds for a bargain connected nan adjacent possession and nan prevention led to a three-pointer from Doncic.

Doncic made 9 of 14 three-point attempts arsenic nan Lakers made 17 of 36 shots from beyond nan arc, their champion three-point percent successful a crippled since Feb. 20.

After not taking a azygous changeable successful nan first quarter, James had 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists successful nan 3rd 4th arsenic nan Lakers’ lead grew to 22 points.