The Chicago Bulls shocked the Los Angeles Lakers with a 119-117 victory Thursday night, just a few days after they were frustrated in Los Angeles. Although the Lakers led by up to 18 points in the fourth quarter, they couldn't hold on because of the exciting sequence of Josh Giddey's buzzer.
The Bulls made an extraordinary comeback in the last few seconds. Patrick Williams hit a crucial three-pointer, cutting the deficit by two points for the remaining 9.8 seconds. LeBron James then missed the inbound pass, allowing Giddey to steal the ball and throw Coby White into another 3-pointer, giving Chicago a lead. Austin Reaves briefly regained the lead for the Lakers with a layup, but with only 3.3 seconds left, Giddey lined up and his half-time shot was able to beat the victory.
Giddey's performance throughout the game was simply extraordinary. He finished the game with a triple-double-25 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists and became the first player to record a triple-double and buzzer against the Lakers. “The special moments to do with these teams, this team.” Giddy reflects on the exciting victory. His contribution is crucial to the Bulls’ recent success as they have achieved 5-1 in their last six games.
The Lakers, who were 13 points ahead of the fourth place, were rolled up after another crushing defeat. Despite their star power, including LeBron James and Austin Reeves, the Lakers’ inability to finish the game is a common problem. After the game, James admitted his role in the loss, responsible for the expensive turnover: “We made ourselves capable of winning…my own turnover is terrible.”
The loss is that the Lakers ranked eighth in 12 games, which complicates their playoff position. Meanwhile, the Bulls continued to be surprised, with Giddey becoming a rising star and leading Chicago to wins with powerful rivals like the Lakers and Denver. As Giddey notes, the team’s aggressive style, including attention to high-speed transitions, has been the key to their recent runs. The Bulls' season turnaround proved their resilience, leaving 11-5 since the trade deadline.
Read more: LeBron James hits buzzer to secure Lakers victory
