On a charge up the Western Conference standings, the Los Angeles Lakers will be out to continue their momentum with a visit from the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
The Lakers have won six of their past seven games and are unbeaten through three games of their current homestand after a 120-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Los Angeles has delivered three consecutive victories without LeBron James, who is on the mend from a right hip contusion and left foot arthritis.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have delivered plenty of firepower without James. Doncic posted his seventh triple-double of the season with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the victory over the Timberwolves, while Reaves also had 31 points with eight assists.
“That (offensive) end was really good, but really it was our defensive game plan that was fantastic. They executed it,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said after Los Angeles held Anthony Edwards to 2 of 15 from the floor and 1 of 10 from 3-point range.
Deandre Ayton did his part with 14 points and 12 rebounds as Los Angeles took control by outscoring Minnesota 39-23 in the third quarter to break a 45-45 tie at halftime.
“It’s great for his teammates to see him have a really good performance on both ends of the floor,” Redick said of Ayton. “It’s bigger for D.A. to have a game like that against a really good team that is one of the best teams in basketball.”
The Bulls have been able to find some footing of late by winning three of their past five games after an 11-game losing streak that equaled the third-longest in franchise history.
Chicago reconstructed its roster at the trade deadline by sending out Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic. They added nine second-round picks as well as Jaden Ivey, Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons among its return haul.
The Bulls will enter off a 130-124 road overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Matas Buzelis scored a career-high 41 points, while Josh Giddey added 21 points, 17 assists and 13 rebounds for his 10th triple-double of the season.
Jalen Smith tied the game for the Bulls by delivering two of his 12 points on free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation. Buzelis had five of Chicago’s 12 points in overtime.
“At the end of the day, everything comes back to winning,” Buzelis told reporters after the game. “You can have 100 points (and) if you lose, it doesn’t really mean anything. I’m glad we kept fighting at the end there. … That’s what happens when you put in your spirit and everyone believes and everyone is on the same page.”
Collin Sexton missed the game with a bruised leg, while Patrick Williams (ankle) has missed five of the past six games. Both are questionable against the Lakers. Simons has not played in the last eight because of a hand injury and will sit out again.
Los Angeles earned a 129-118 victory at Chicago on Jan. 26 when Doncic scored 46 points, his second-most in a game this season. The Lakers can sweep the two-game series against the Bulls after Chicago swept the two games last season.
