The Lakers had it. They led 115-110 with 12.6 seconds to play until a pointer of Patrick Williams had the bulls down two. Then Chicago stole the inbound pass, Coby White drained three others and Chicago led 116-115 with 6.1 to play.
Austin Reaves led the rim and hit a lay-up to put the Lakers in front of 117-116 with only 3.3 seconds to go, and the Bulls had no time. Then Josh Giddey did this.
Giddey felt good with it.
Josh Giddey: “As soon as he left my fingers, it looked good. It was somehow why I passed my follow-up all the time. I had this feeling. He looked straight. It was good. Night Special. Wine back. It was a Helluva team effort. We will appreciate this one.”
– KC Johnson (@kcjhoop) March 28, 2025
Come a night after The Lakers won a game on a Lebron James in Buzzer Tip-inThis loss was “devastation” for the Lakers, according to coach JJ Redick. The Lakers dominated in the third quarter and led by less than 18 to the fourth quarter, but the second night on a back to back, seemed to lose steam late. Reaves led the Lakers with 30 points, while Luka Doncic collected 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The Bulls was also hot, pulling 11 out of 14 out of 3 points in the fourth. Giddey finished with a triple-double of 25 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Coby White scored 26 for Chicago.
The defeat drops the Lakers into equality with Memphis for the seeds of 4/5 and a home shot in the first round of the western playoffs. The Lakers were 1.5 games behind Denver for the third, but also 2.5 games in front of the clippers soap with nine games to play.