Luka's 51 Point Near Triple Double Powers Lakers Past Bulls, Lakers Now 3rd in West

Written By Malcolm Xavier of The Lakers Room

Are the Lakers heating up for the stretch run? It actually feels like we're turning a corner. Deandre Ayton was a monster tonight, I want to start there simple and plain he finisehd with 23 points 10 Rebounds (6 offensive) and it felt like he contributed double that from an effort standpoint. Great job DA. Luka was his usual juggernaut of an offensive weapon self adding in 51 points 10 rebounds and 9 assist. Josh Giddey and Buzelis led the feisty Bulls with 27 15 assist 8 rebounds and 22 points respectively, they kept fighting in a game the Lakers led by as many as 22 that was down to 10 going into the fourth quarter and got as close as 7 early in the fourth. LA proved to be too much in the long run.

Both teams shot the ball well but the Lakers controlled the paint for once with an advantage of . LeBron added 18 points 7 rebounds and 7 assist in his first game back from arthritis injury including a couple emphatic dunks that he appeared very heatlhy on. Austin Reaves the third member of the LA big three had a solid outing with 30 points and added three deep shots plus 7 dimes of his own. The Lakers starters scored all but 5 points in this game which definitely is a question of offensive depth but that's grasping at straws, or finding something to pick at as the Lakers controlled the game throughout and are currently the third seed in the Western Confrerence with a chance to solidify there position with the next three coming vs Denver and Houston (twice).