James, returning from elbow and hip contusions sustained in a fall against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, had 18 points with seven rebounds and seven assists. Austin Reaves scored 30 points with seven assists to reach 5,000 career points, and Deandre Ayton had his second consecutive double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lakers let the struggling Bulls (27-39) go on a 12-3 run to tie the score at the end of the first quarter but started to heat up when Doncic scored 10 consecutive points in the second quarter. The streak signaled to the six-time All-Star he was going to have one those nights.
“Somebody started talking to me,” Doncic said, “so I woke up.”
When asked who antagonized him, Doncic paused to scan the stat sheet in front of him.
“Matas,” the Lakers superstar said after five seconds. “Buzelis.”
The 21-year-old forward had 22 points and six rebounds for the Bulls, who were led by 27 points and 15 assists from Josh Giddey. Doncic hit a one-legged midrange fadeaway over Buzelis midway through the second quarter and pointed toward the Bulls forward. He drained a three over Buzelis a minute later and turned his head toward him while running back on defense. When he used a screen from Ayton to get past Buzelis and kissed the ball off the backboard on a left-handed finger roll, Doncic gestured toward Buzelis again.
The second-year former first-round draft pick didn’t even have to be on the floor to face Doncic’s wrath. After Doncic hit a pullup free-throw line jumper with 2:52 left in the second quarter, he pointed to Buzelis, who was standing at the scorers table
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