The Chicago Bulls team achieved an impressive victory with 146:115 over the Los Angeles Lakers as a guest in a match from the next round of the National Basketball Association of the United States and Canada, BTA reported.
LeBron James, the leader in the all-time scoring ranking in the League, took part in the match for the hosts, who returned after treatment for a groin injury that lasted two weeks. However, this did not help in any way the "lakesiders", who were completely outplayed by their opponent.
Kobe White scored 36 points for Chicago, making 12 of his 17 shots. Lithuanian rookie Matas Buzelis added 31 points, and Australian Josh Giddy was two steals away from the first "quadruple-double" of this century, after scoring 15 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, making 17 assists and taking eight balls.
For the Lakers, Luka Doncic scored 34 points for the Lakers, Austin Reeves added 25, and LeBron James finished with 17. The Los Angeles team remains in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, but has lost six of its last nine games.
Another contender for first place in the Pacific Division, the Golden State Warriors, also suffered a loss. The "Warriors" lost 115:124 on their visit to the Atlanta Hawks. The expected clash between playmakers Trae Young and Steph Curry did not take place, as Curry was rested. Without him, Golden State's offense was not at its usual level and the hosts from Atlanta took advantage of this. They opened a 20-point lead before the end of the first quarter and practically maintained a double-digit lead until the end of the game.
Trae Young scored 25 points for Atlanta and made 10 assists. Georges Niang added 23 points off the bench, and Onyeka Okongwu finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. For Golden State, Jimmy Butler scored 25 points, and Moses Moody scored 20.
At "Madison Square Garden" the New York Knicks defeated the visiting Washington Wizards 122:103. At halftime, the hosts led by 25 points at 66:41 and until the end of the game, there was no serious relaxation in their ranks that would lead to a turnaround. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points for the Knicks, Mikel Bridges added 27 more, and OG Ananubi added 23 more. For the capital team, who are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and no longer have a theoretical chance of qualifying for the playoffs, Georgeann Poole was the most productive with 25 points. Marcus Smart scored 17 more, and Kyshawn George finished with 15 points.