LeBron James appeared rejuvenated and ready to lead the Los Angeles Lakers in the final phase of the postseason, following a two-week absence due to injury, on Saturday night.
The Lakers then suffered a 146-115 flogging at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, with nearly nothing else going their way.
After missing the Los Angeles Lakers' previous seven games due to a strained left groin, LeBron James scored 17 points. However, the all-time leading scorer in NBA history demonstrated moments of rustiness, notably late in the first quarter when he executed a long sideline inbounds pass that veered out of bounds without nearing a teammate.
James' return, however, represented merely one facet of the Lakers' notably poor performance; they suffered a consecutive defeat, marking the latest downturn in their inconsistent trajectory since acquiring Luka Doncic.
Not even the concurrent return of Rui Hachimura, the starting forward, who had been sidelined for 12 games due to a knee injury, could help the Lakers compete with the motivated Bulls.
For extended periods, the Lakers have consistently ranked among the NBA's top teams due to their new superstar pairing; however, their numerous subpar performances highlight the considerable work that remains to be done. Additionally, their schedule has been exceptionally demanding, featuring five home games in seven days and a total of 20 games within a five-week span.
James, 40, is optimistic that the Lakers will discover their greatest selves. Prior to James' injury, they had won eight straight games, and right before his comeback earlier this week, they were on a three-game winning run.
When asked how he was doing after suffering a groin injury late in the Lakers' March 8 defeat to reigning champion Boston, James was evasive. Prior to its current two-game losing streak, Los Angeles won three straight at home after losing all four of their away games.
Prior to his injury, James had a record-tying 22nd NBA season with averages of 25.0 points, 8.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds.
Hachimura, averaging 13.3 points per game and ranking as the Lakers' fourth-leading scorer, contributed five points in 18 minutes during his return. While he estimates his knee recovery at "70 to 80 percent," he expressed eagerness to return to full health.
In addition to Doncic and Austin Reaves missing Thursday's game against Milwaukee, the Lakers are playing their sixth game in eight days without their four regular starters. Their teammates were unable to keep up with Doncic and Reaves' combined 59 points against Chicago.