CHI 94 (3-12), LAL 103 (8-10)

STATS LEADERS

PTS • K. Kuzma (22), K. Caldwell-Pope (21), D. Valentine & B. Ingram (17) 

ASTS • K. Dunn (6), B. Ingram (5), K. Kuzma (5)

REBS • L. Markkanen (14), L. Ball (13), Ju. Holiday & J. Randle (10)

For the only game on last night's slate, CHI-LAL definitely didn't disappoint. 

The Bulls came out strong in the first half, leading by 4 after 1 and building 56-42 advantage after 2 - thanks in large part to 2Way, Undrafted rook Antonio Blakeney, CHI saw itself with a sizable margin in bench points (18-6) during the first 24.

Blakeney, who joined the rotation a week ago, poured in 15 pts during an 8-minute 2Q stretch - he scored a few different ways while iso'ing, capped his run w/ a transition (baby) tomahawk over Julius Randle. Fred Hoiberg only played Blakeney 2 min. in the second half, which might have contributed to their blown lead.

Down 19, LAL rallied back strong contributions from Kyle Kuzma (22 & 5 dimes), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (21, 8 & 4 dimes), Brandon Ingram (17, 5 & 5 dimes) and, perhaps most importantly, J. Randle (10 pts 10 boards, 2 blocks off bench, 28 min.).

Randle was a key factor during the 3rd period - he scored 10 pts while playing tough interior (& switching) D v. CHI's penetration. In attack mode all quarter, J. Randle helped LAL chip away and tie things up early in the 4th.

From then on, it was a battle of attrition - CHI's huge lead vanished but enough time to recover and pull it out. Who wanted it more? Who executed better? -- Lakers.

Might not have been for lack of effort but CHI couldn't generate good possessions in the final stanza - led by a young PG (K. Dunn: 12, 6 & 5 boards) & featuring young stars, it'll be growing pains figuring out how to get good shots (in tight contests) and who's gonna take em.

LA, on the other hand, got huge triples & o-boards from KCP, buckets from Kuzma & dimes & glass cleaning from Lonzo Ball. Very solid comeback victory for LAL, who now sit in 8th out West.

Denzel Valentine led the way for CHI (17, 9 boards, 4 dimes, 2 steals), who travels to UTA for a game tonight. Lauri Markkanen (13 & 14 boards) shot just 4/17, while Robin Lopez (14 pts, 3 boards) won the h2h matchup with his twin brother, Brook (4 & 9 boards).

The Lakers, led by Kuzma (22 pts), KCP (21 pts) & Ingram (17 pts) get after it again tonight in SAC (ESPN; 7:30 PT)

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TOOK NOTE

(CHI): L. Markkanen's Staples Center debut! • Dimes v. TOs -- L. Markkanen: rough night: 4/17 shooting, 13 pts, 14 boards • CHI: 22 dimes v. 14 TOs

(CHI): K. Dunn explosion? • Strong night from B. Portis & D. Valentine? -- K. Dunn: 12 (5/14 shooting), 6 & 5 boards • B. Portis: solid - 8 & 9 boards (20 min.) • D. Valentine: very solid - 17, 9 boards, 4 dimes, 2 steals 

(LAL): L. Ball follow-up game? • B. Lopez > R. Lopez? -- L. Ball: 8 (3/13 shooting), 13 boards, 4 dimes • B. Lopez (4 & 9 boards) < R. Lopez (14 & 3 boards)

(LAL): Board battle, 3-pt. shooting, forced CHI TOs -- lost board battle (54-53), 13/40 from deep, forced CHI into 14 TOs