LOS ANGELES (AP) – LeBron James scored 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of two injured starters for a 117-115 victory over the Chicago Bulls Friday night.
Zach LaVine scored 38 points, but the UCLA product missed a 17-foot jumper by 4.7 seconds over what would have put Chicago ahead.
Montrezl Harrell had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the defending NBA champion, who won five of six. James and Harrell took the lead as Los Angeles kept the Bulls on track without the injured predecessors Anthony Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
LaVine scored 19 points in the first quarter for the Bulls, who lost two in California after an impressive win over Portland.
Dennis Schroder scored 17 points and hit a three-pointer with 2:39 to play to increase the Lakers 113-107, but Chicago took the lead at 116-115 on Garrett Temple’s three-pointer by 37 seconds.
James missed an extra long triangle to put the game in Chicago’s hands, but LaVine missed his controversial jumper, and his teammates took the ball out of bounds.
Wesley Matthews had 14 points on four three-pointers in the 34-year-old rookie’s first start for the Lakers.
Wendell Carter Jr. scored 23 points for the season and Thaddeus Young has 15 for Chicago.
The Lakers followed up a largely lifeless defensive display as they lost to San Antonio on Thursday with another unimpressive effort in the first half. LaVine passed in a dynamic first quarter with 8 for 8 and Carter added 12 points in the third point.
TIPS
Bulle: Otto Porter Jr. did not return for the second half after experiencing back spasms. He played six minutes. … The teams meet again January 23 in Chicago. … Lauri Markkanen, Tomas Satoransky, Ryan Arcidiacono and Chandler Hutchison stayed home from the West Coast trip due to coronavirus protocols.
Lakers: Davis missed his second game of the season with a real adductor team. The superstar big man could not get loose during workouts. … Markieff Morris had 11 points when he started in Davis’ place. … Caldwell-Pope puts out his fourth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle.
PRACTICAL PERFECT
The teams collectively made their first 30 free throws before James missed by 5:19. Only four games in NBA history have been completed without a missed free throw.
FOLLOWING
Bulls: Sunday at Clippers.
Lakers: At Rockets on Sunday.
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