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The Los Angeles Lakers hit their longest losing streak of the season after a 114-91 beating at the hands of the Chicago Bulls. Another horrendous start from the Lakers put them down double digits early, scoring just 15 points in the first quarter. Los Angeles never came back within striking distance, sleepily going through the motions as they dropped their eighth game in a row.
Pau Gasol put on a show in his return to Los Angeles, nearly notching a triple-double in the kind of all-around effort Lakers fans enjoyed from him at his peak. Gasol ended the night with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, setting up his teammates for easy baskets throughout the night. Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 26 points, with 10 assists and five rebounds to button up a solid night from the Bulls' perimeter star.
D'Angelo Russell was a ghost on the floor, making just one of his four attempts (three points), with four assists, three rebounds and three turnovers. Julius Randle had a nice third quarter, pushing the pace in transition to put pressure on the Bulls' interior defense. Randle scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Kobe Bryant made just four of his 13 attempts for 10 points.
It was the typical kind of Lakers game we've seen all season, with possessions that go nowhere and a complete lack of defense. We'll see if they can miraculously find answers to the numerous questions they have across the board when they "visit" the Clippers Friday night in the second half of a back-to-back set.