By Richard Kagan

The Chicago Bulls played the Los Angeles Lakers tough in the fourth quarter, but in the end, the Lakers took command and won the game, 108-103.  Chicago made 17 of 36 3’s which kept Chicago right in it.  In this game, two young teams with nearly identical records went at it, but LA prevailed.

Brandon Ingram of LA scored eight points in three plus minutes to help ice the win. Ingram had 25 points, the talented Jordan Clarkson had 19 and C Brook Lopez tallied 17 for the Lakers.

Chicago lacked scoring punch from F Lauri Markannen (3 for 10) and G Zach LaVine, 3 of 17 from the field, and that did not help the Bulls’ cause. The bench came up big because it had to. Nikola Mirotic was slumbering for most of the game but he found his shot and scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. Denzel Valentine and Bobby Portis each scored 16 points off the bench.

The Bulls rallied early in the fourth on three-point shots by Valentine and Mirotic to take a 95-92 lead, but the Lakers fought back and went ahead. The Bulls fought hard to stay in the game, but the Lakers made the plays down the stretch. It is hard to win when two of your starters go 6 for 27.  Chicago only shot 38% from the field but had a very good night long distance going 17 of 36. Chicago had made at least 10 3’s in its last 11 home games.

Guard Kevin Dunn is still out due to injuries he suffered in the nasty fall to the court 4 games ago. He is still feeling groggy and out of sorts and no time frame has been given for his return

The Bulls next game is when it hosts the Milwaukee Bucks.