The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t exactly receive a jolt of energy from the lineup changes, but they avoided the dreaded big deficit in the first quarter and snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bulls, 107-100.
Like the New York Knicks (nine games) and Cleveland Cavaliers (12) before them, the Bulls went into the matchup at Staples on a losing skid (seven games).
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made the most of his return to the starting lineup, leading the Lakers through the first two quarters with nine points. He scored six of those while playing the entire first quarter.