James, Lakers top Bulls to end skid

[March 13, 2019]  LeBron James had 36 points and 10 rebounds, and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers overcame their lowest-scoring first quarter of the season to end a five-game losing streak with a 123-107 win against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 24 points off the bench, Kyle Kuzma scored 21, Rajon Rondo had 14 points and 10 assists and JaVale McGee finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.

Robin Lopez scored 20 points, Otto Porter Jr. had 19 points and nine rebounds and Kris Dunn finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and nine assists for Chicago. Ryan Arcidiacono started in place of leading scorer Zach LaVine (knee) and had 14 points and six assists.

The Lakers, who trailed by as many as 20 early in the second quarter, went ahead for the first time since making the first basket of the game when Kuzma put in a layup for a 66-64 lead with 8:48 left in the third quarter. Kuzma had missed the previous two games with an ankle injury.

The Bulls moved back out in front by eight points, but Los Angeles reeled them back in and scored the final 16 points of the third quarter to take a 98-84 lead into the fourth.

Chicago scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and got as close as 100-96 with 8:38 left, but the Lakers put together a 10-3 run to go back ahead by double figures for good.

Lakers forward LeBron James (23) passes the ball to center Moritz Wagner (15) against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers scored 16 points in the first quarter, and the Bulls closed with an 11-1 run to take an 18-point lead into the second quarter.

The lead expanded to as much as 20 before the Lakers began chipping away and got back within single digits at 38-29 on a 3-pointer by Moritz Wagner.

Los Angeles got the deficit down to four points with 2:07 left in the half before Chicago took a 60-55 lead into the break.

The Bulls shot 8-for-12 from 3-point range in the first half and 11-for-27 for the game.

--Field Level Media

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