The Los Angeles Lakers faced a disappointing end to their homestand on Saturday, suffering a crushing 146-115 defeat against the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena. The game, which was expected to be a straightforward win with the return of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, instead turned into a defensive disaster, marking the Lakers’ worst defensive performance of the season.
A Defensive Collapse
The Lakers, who had positioned themselves as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, allowed a season-high 146 points, exposing major flaws in their defense. The team trailed by as many as 34 points, failing to mount any significant resistance.
“That was the worst our defense has looked, frankly, maybe all year, but certainly in the last three months,” Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted after the game.
As the game progressed, the defensive woes only worsened. The Bulls’ scoring output increased in each quarter, culminating in a dominant fourth quarter where Chicago dropped 42 points. The Lakers’ perimeter defense was particularly weak, allowing the Bulls to shoot an astounding 8-of-10 from three-point range in the third quarter. By the time Chicago’s Coby White drilled another three-pointer—part of his career-high 36-point performance—many Lakers fans had already left the arena with over six minutes left on the clock.
A Homestand That Started Strong but Ended in Disappointment
The Lakers entered this five-game homestand with high hopes, securing three straight victories. However, back-to-back losses against the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls cast a shadow over their momentum. Despite missing key players in recent games, expectations remained high as the team aimed to solidify its playoff positioning.
While the loss itself isn’t cause for immediate panic, the Lakers are running out of time to develop the chemistry needed for a deep postseason run. With only 13 games left in the regular season, the window for improvement is closing fast.
Urgency for Immediate Improvement
The Lakers’ core trio—LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves—has only played ten games together this season. Redick emphasized the importance of urgency moving forward.
“The thing that we have talked about all season long though, is grace,” Redick said. “So, the group inherently gets some grace for what these last three weeks have looked like. It’s not an excuse, it’s just the nature of the NBA. But we don’t have a lot of time. It’s got to be now.”
The upcoming schedule provides little room for error. The Lakers currently sit just half a game behind the Denver Nuggets in the standings and trail the Houston Rockets by two and a half games. However, with two matchups against Houston before the season ends, they still control their destiny.
Path to Redemption
If the Lakers hope to reclaim their defensive identity, they must return to the fundamentals—protecting the paint, contesting perimeter shots, and dominating the boards. The team has previously bounced back from bad losses with strong performances, and their upcoming road trip presents another opportunity to prove their resilience.
This homestand may have ended on a disappointing note, but the Lakers’ season is far from over. With their stars finally back in the lineup, they have a chance to script their own ending. The key will be execution—learning from Saturday’s defeat and translating those lessons into wins as they prepare for the playoffs.
