NBA: Chicago Bulls spoil LeBron's return with 118-108 win over Los Angeles Lakers

NEW DELHI: Chicago Bulls registered a 118-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. LeBron James scored 19 points off the bench in his return, but Zach LaVine scored 32 points to lead his team to a win.

DeMar DeRozan added 17 points for the Bulls, who easily overcame James' return with an impressive performance in their seventh win in nine games. LaVine hit 11 of his first 14 shots to lead an offensive effort that snapped the Lakers' three-game winning streak despite the return of the NBA's career scoring leader.

James sat out 13 games with right foot soreness, missing four weeks during the Lakers' run at a playoff berth. The team provided few updates on his recovery, and his return came with little advance warning, the decision made only after a pregame workout.

And for only the second time in his 20-year, 1,958-game NBA career, James wasn't a starter. He came in as a reserve midway through the first quarter, still doing his standard pregame chalk toss while receiving a standing ovation from Lakers fans.

Troy Brown Jr. and Malik Beasley scored 18 points apiece, but Anthony Davis managed just 15 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers (37-38) failed to get above .500 for the first time since Jan. 9, 2022.

The Lakers still were without D’Angelo Russell, who missed his second straight game with a right hip injury. Los Angeles went 8-5 in James’ absence, but his return will force an adjustment of the chemistry built by his teammates in his absence — and the Bulls took full advantage.

James got his first basket on a drive late in the first quarter, and he finished the first half with eight points. But Chicago largely controlled play, streaking to a 20-point lead in the second quarter. Los Angeles briefly got the lead down to single digits down the stretch, but got no closer.

The Bulls largely controlled Davis even after Nikola Vucevic was ejected in the second quarter with two quick technical fouls when he argued what appeared to be a good call against him.

Patrick Beverley had 10 points and five assists in his first game against the Lakers since they traded him last month. Beverley has been outspoken about his desire to hurt the Lakers' playoff hopes during this home-and-home series between the teams, but Davis and the other Lakers smiled at his provocative talk.

When Beverley made a little hook shot with 1:12 left to boost Chicago's lead back to double digits, Beverley slapped the floor and made the dismissive “too small” gesture sometimes used by NBA players to taunt their opponents, in this case James.

(With inputs from Reuters)