Lakers Crumble in Shocking Collapse Against Bulls

The Los Angeles Lakers’ March 27 showdown against the Chicago Bulls can only be described as a disaster. Fresh off a hard-fought 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers, the Lakers were expected to carry their momentum forward. Instead, they suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat, their second to the Bulls within a week. While this loss (119-117) was closer than the March 22 blowout (146-115), it revealed the same concerning issues: complacency, miscommunication, and a failure to close out games.

Los Angeles showed resilience in overcoming a halftime deficit, even building an 18-point lead at one stage. However, their lack of urgency in the fourth quarter cost them dearly. With just 12 seconds remaining, the Lakers held a five-point lead, seemingly on the verge of victory. But in a shocking turn of events, they allowed the Bulls to snatch the game away in mere seconds.

Patrick Williams ignited Chicago’s comeback with a clutch three-pointer, trimming the deficit to two points with 9.8 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, LeBron James lost control of the ball, leading to another Bulls opportunity. Josh Giddey capitalized, draining a deep three to tie the game.

Still, the Lakers had a chance to regain control. Austin Reaves, who had been a key contributor all night, was expected to draw a foul and head to the free-throw line. But a miscommunication on the inbounds pass led to disaster—Reaves never secured the ball, and Chicago stole yet another possession. With just 3.3 seconds remaining, Giddey delivered the final dagger, sinking a half-court buzzer-beater to stun the Lakers.

The collapse left Los Angeles reeling. Reaves admitted that he and James weren’t on the same page on the final play, saying, “I was trying to hold him off instead of popping to the ball.” That split-second confusion cost them dearly. Meanwhile, Luka Dončić, reflecting on the game, pointed out the team’s biggest flaw: “We relaxed in the fourth quarter. We just have to play the game for 48 minutes.”

It’s a problem that has plagued the Lakers all season—losing focus when it matters most. Their inability to maintain intensity for all four quarters has led to repeated failures, and opponents have capitalized on it time and again. This was perhaps their worst collapse yet, and head coach JJ Redick will undoubtedly have some harsh words for his squad about their lack of discipline.

If the Lakers don’t fix their late-game struggles, these painful losses will only continue to pile up.