Lakers blow big lead, rally late for win over Bulls
Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram, left, shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
CHICAGO — Brandon Ingram scored 25 points, including eight in the final 3:18, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied late for a 108-103 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night after losing a 12-point, fourth-quarter lead.
Jordan Clarkson had 19 points and Brook Lopez added 17 for the Lakers, who have won four straight and eight of 10.
Los Angeles trailed 95-92 with less than four minutes to play before Ingram — who also had nine rebounds and was 10 for 18 from the field — started the rally with a pair of free throws.
Nikola Mirotic scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and Denzel Valentine and Bobby Portis had 16 apiece for Chicago, which has dropped three straight.
This was the opener of a five-game road trip for Los Angeles, which led by as much as 15 in the first half before Chicago rallied to tie the score at 68 early in the third quarter. The Lakers, though, answered with 11 straight points and led 84-72 entering the fourth.
The Bulls rallied again and took a 92-90 lead with 5½ minutes remaining on Valentine’s 3-pointer. It was Chicago’s first lead since 3-2. Mirotic hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulls the 95-92 lead before Los Angeles took control.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Rookie G Lonzo Ball missed his sixth straight game with a sore left knee. The second overall pick is averaging 10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
Bulls: Zach LaVine, playing in just his seventh game of the season following ACL surgery last February, played a season-high 26 minutes. His minutes restriction was lifted to 26-28 minutes before the game . Chicago was 17 for 36 on 3-pointers and now has made at least 10 3s in each of its last 11 home games.
DUNN STILL OUT
Chicago G Kris Dunn missed his fourth straight game with a concussion, and it’s unclear when he might return.
“The symptoms really haven’t changed much,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “He’s feeling a little bit better today, but he’s still doing very limited physical activity.”
Dunn, who suffered the concussion following a hard fall in a game on Jan. 17, still is experiencing headaches, fatigue and grogginess.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Visit the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Bulls: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
