The energy inside the United Center usually hits different when the purple and gold roll into town, but the recent history between these two franchises has been nothing short of a fever dream. If you were looking for the lakers vs bulls score and expected a blowout, you haven't been paying attention to how weird this matchup has become in 2026.
Honestly, the Lakers came into this stretch trying to find their footing in a Western Conference that feels like a meat grinder. With Luka Doncic now steering the ship alongside LeBron James—who somehow still looks like he’s 28—the expectations are sky-high. But Chicago? They’ve turned into this scrappy, unpredictable unit that refuses to die at home.
In their most recent high-stakes meeting, the scoreboard told a story of two teams headed in opposite directions. The Bulls managed to pull off a 119-117 nail-biter that left Lakers fans staring at the ceiling. It wasn't just the loss; it was how it happened. Austin Reaves was playing out of his mind, dropping 30 points and looking like the most composed guy on the floor. Then, Josh Giddey—who has basically become a triple-double machine in Chicago—decided to launch a desperation heave from halfcourt at the buzzer.
It went in. Swish. Dead silence in the Lakers' huddle.
The Numbers Behind the Lakers vs Bulls Score
When you dig into the box score, you see the glaring issues that keep haunting LA. They’re giving up way too many second-chance points. Nikola Vucevic, even as the elder statesman of the Bulls' frontcourt, dominated the glass. He ended up with a massive double-double, but it was his tiebreaking layup in the final seconds of their following game against Utah that showed he still has that clutch gene.
Against the Lakers, the Bulls' bench actually outscored LA’s reserves by a significant margin. It’s kinda wild when you think about the star power on that Lakers roster. LeBron was dishing out assists like he was playing a video game—12 of them, to be exact—but his shooting was uncharacteristically cold. He went 8-for-20. You could see the frustration every time a rim-out happened.
Why the Bulls Keep Winning the "Effort" Battles
Chicago is currently sitting around the 10th spot in the East with an 18-21 record, which isn't exactly "title contender" territory. Yet, they play the Lakers like it's Game 7 of the Finals. Coby White has evolved. He’s no longer just a spark plug; he’s a legitimate floor general who can drop 26 on your head while directing traffic.
- Coby White: 26 points, 9 assists, 5 triples.
- Josh Giddey: 25 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists.
- Austin Reaves: 30 points (team high for LA).
- LeBron James: 17 points, 12 assists, but 0-for-5 from deep.
The Lakers' defensive rotations were slow. It’s sort of the "Luka-LeBron" tax—you get incredible offensive gravity, but sometimes the transition defense suffers. Jaxson Hayes was a bright spot, shooting 9-for-11, but when your primary scorers are struggling from the perimeter, those interior buckets just aren't enough to bridge the gap.
Misconceptions About This Rivalry
Most people think the Lakers should walk over the Bulls because of the talent gap. On paper? Sure. In reality? The Bulls have won the last few meetings by playing "chaos ball." They force turnovers and run. The Lakers turned it over 15 times in that 117-116 heartbreaker, and in the NBA, that’s basically asking for a loss.
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There's also this weird narrative that LeBron is "done" every time he has a sub-20-point game. It's nonsense. He’s averaging 11 assists per game this season. He’s transitioned into a Point Forward role that allows Luka to hunt for his own shot. The problem isn't LeBron's age; it's the lack of consistent perimeter lockdown defenders when Vanderbilt is off the floor.
Standings and What's Next
Right now, the Lakers are 5th in the West (24-14), trying to keep pace with the Thunder and Spurs. They need these wins against sub-.500 teams like Chicago to secure home-court advantage. Missing out on the lakers vs bulls score they wanted has pushed them into a tight spot as they head into a brutal February schedule.
Chicago is just trying to stay in the Play-In conversation. They’re a young team with building blocks like Matas Buzelis and the newly drafted Noa Essengue. They don't have the pressure of a "championship or bust" season, which makes them dangerous. They play loose. They take the halfcourt heaves. And against the Lakers, those heaves seem to find the bottom of the net more often than not.
If you’re looking to track the next matchup, keep an eye on the injury report. The Lakers are notoriously cautious with Davis and LeBron on back-to-backs. If they aren't at 100%, the Bulls' backcourt will exploit those gaps every single time.
To get the most out of following this season, don't just look at the final score. Check the "points off turnovers" stat. That is where the Lakers are losing these games. If they can get that number under 12 per game, they’ll start turning these close losses into comfortable wins. For the Bulls, it's all about the first quarter. When they lead after 12 minutes, their win percentage jumps significantly.
Watch the defensive assignments on the perimeter. If LA continues to drop in their pick-and-roll coverage, guys like Coby White will continue to have career nights. Correcting that one coverage could be the difference between a deep playoff run and another disappointing early exit.