Randle's 13 Points and 20 Rebounds Lifts Lakers Past Bulls
CHICAGO (AP) — Julius Randle made a strong move against Nikola Mirotic for a tiebreaking layup with 45.1 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Chicago Bulls for a gritty 96-90 victory on Wednesday night.
Randle had 13 points and matched a career high with 20 rebounds as Los Angeles bounced back from an ugly 105-88 loss at New Orleans on Tuesday night. Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points apiece, and Larry Nance Jr. finished with 12 points and 11 boards.
Randle's drive and layup gave Los Angeles a 92-90 lead. After Jimmy Butler missed on the other side for Chicago, Williams went 1 for 2 at the line with 20 seconds to go.
Butler then missed another 3 and Randle and Nance combined for three foul shots to help Los Angeles hold on.
Butler went 13 of 15 at the line and finished with 22 points for the Bulls, who were hoping to build on a 4-2 road trip. Dwyane Wade, who was listed as doubtful after getting some dental work on Tuesday, scored 17 points, and Robin Lopez finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight blocked shots.
The Bulls used 40 points from Butler to beat the Lakers 118-110 in Los Angeles on Nov. 20. But the Lakers held the Bulls to 35.2 percent shooting in the rematch and enjoyed a 60-46 rebounding advantage.
It was an impressive response from Los Angeles after the team announced before the game that Nick Young was expected to miss two to four weeks would a strained right calf muscle, adding another injury to an already depleted backcourt.
Young was hurt in the first quarter Tuesday night. He had an MRI on Wednesday in Chicago.
"He's been playing great, such a huge part of what we've done so far," first-year coach Luke Walton said. "Obviously, it's a big blow to our team and what we're trying to do, but that's part of life in the NBA. So we'll figure it out and keep going forward."
Los Angeles also was without guard D'Angelo Russell, who missed his sixth straight game due to left knee soreness.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Randle leads the team with five double-doubles this season. He has 39 double-doubles in 99 career games.
Bulls: F Doug McDermott (concussion protocol) missed his seventh consecutive game. "He's going to see our team doctor tonight and then have a session with our physical therapist tomorrow and we'll see how he's doing," coach Fred Hoiberg said before the game. ... Butler has scored 20 or more points in his last 11 games, setting a career high. His previous best was six in a row.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Play another back-to-back when they visit Toronto on Friday night and Memphis on Saturday night.
Bulls: Host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, and LeBron James pays up after he lost his bet with buddy Wade over the World Series. James is expected to wear a Chicago Cubs uniform before the game.
