In Los Angeles, LeBron James made a comeback to the court on Saturday night after a two-week hiatus due to an injury, appearing rejuvenated and geared up to guide the Los Angeles Lakers into the playoffs. However, the game spiraled out of control for the Lakers, culminating in a crushing 146-115 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls.
“We have to execute better than what we showed tonight and on our latest trip,” James commented before the Lakers embarked on a four-game stretch starting in Orlando on Monday. Returning from a seven-game absence due to a strained left groin, James scored 17 points. Yet, as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, signs of rust were evident, highlighted by a misplaced long pass late in the first quarter that went out without reaching a teammate.
The Lakers’ lackluster performance was compounded despite James’ return, marking their second consecutive loss and adding another low point to a season filled with ups and downs since the acquisition of Luka Doncic. Even the return of starting forward Rui Hachimura, back from a 12-game sideline stint with a knee injury, couldn’t turn the tide in the Lakers’ favor against the energetic Bulls.
Lakers coach JJ Redick reflected on the team’s performance, proposing that the players might have assumed a turnaround in form with their full roster available. “We’ve discussed grace all season, so the team will have some for these past weeks. However, today’s defense was our worst, particularly in the past three months,” he admitted.
While the Lakers have been formidable over extensive periods with their star-studded lineup, poor performances have uncovered areas for improvement. The grueling schedule added to their woes, as they faced 20 matches within five weeks and just completed five home games in seven days.
Despite this, the 40-year-old James remains optimistic about the team hitting its stride. Prior to his injury, the Lakers were on an eight-game winning streak and saw a three-game victory run after his return. “I’m well-aware of what this team can achieve,” stated James. “We have consistently maintained our effort and played the right way under various circumstances. It’s impressive how we’ve managed to secure wins amid adversity, injuries, and scheduling challenges.”
He was, however, reticent when discussing his groin injury recovery, sustained during the Lakers’ previous loss to Boston on March 8, after which they suffered four consecutive away losses. They bounced back with three home victories but now face another losing streak.
Following his injury, when asked about his recovery, James said, “It’s a day-by-day process for me. I can’t predict future events, but today’s focus was on ensuring I worked on it. Hopefully, the flight to Orlando provides more recovery time. I hope I’ll soon move past this issue.”
In his record-equalling 22nd NBA season, prior to his injury, James was averaging 25 points, 8.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds. Compounding the Lakers’ challenges was Rui Hachimura, their fourth-highest scorer, adding just five points in 18 minutes during his comeback. Hachimura mentioned, “My knee feels about 70 to 80 percent, but I’m eager for full recovery.”
Reflecting on the game, Hachimura remarked, “Our defensive efforts were lacking today. Our strategies fell apart as they secured threes, transitions, lay-ups—all of it. We need to hone in on defense since our offense will adjust over time.”
Plagued by injuries and absences, the Lakers struggled against Milwaukee on Thursday and had crucial players like Doncic and Austin Reaves sit out, leaving them without four regular starters during their hectic schedule. In a muted affair against Chicago, Doncic and Reaves together scored 59 points, yet their efforts went unsupported.
Coach Redick highlighted the season-long challenges, emphasizing despite a lack of consistency in player availability, they remain focused on building chemistry and continuity in the upcoming games, “These remaining 13 games offer a chance to restore familiarity and cohesion, hopefully rekindling the form we saw before Boston,” expressed Redick.
