Lakers forward LeBron James is introduced before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and son Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James warm-up before an NBA basketball game against the Chica go Bulls Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic is introduced before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic warms-up before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) smiles after making a basket against the Chicago Bulls of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) passes the ball in front of Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) and guard Luka Doncic (77) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts against the Chicago Bulls in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) scores a basket in front of Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) battles for a rebound with Chicago Bulls forwards Matas Buzelis, left, and Zach Collins, third from left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic celebrate a basket against the Chicago Bulls in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Show Caption1 of 10Lakers forward LeBron James is introduced before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Expand LOS ANGELES — JJ Redick knew that the Lakers were unlikely to immediately recapture the rhythm they were playing with from a few weeks ago. Even with the excitement of, hopefully, having their full rotation available for the last three weeks of the regular season, Redick is aware that it’s going to take time to build chemistry and familiarity after having just a handful of games with Luka Doncic at the helm before multiple starters missed time with injuries. Saturday’s homestand-ending 146-115 loss to the Chicago Bulls showcased the strides the Lakers are going to have to make during the season’s final stretch – and old issues appearing for at least one night. “The disposition and the mentality, I don’t know if we assume because we had everybody back that it was just gonna be like it was three weeks ago, and that’s just not the way this works,” Redick said. “The guys know that. And I’m not saying that’s what they assumed. “The thing that we have talked about all season long, though, is grace. And so the group inherently gets some grace for what this last three weeks has looked like. And it’s not an excuse. It’s just the nature of where a group felt very connected and then you lose some games on the road, you have some injuries, all that stuff.” With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura returning to the floor after being sidelined for seven and 12 games, respectively, the Lakers (43-27) played with a disjointedness of a team battling with unfamiliarity. Even with great shotmaking from Doncic (34 points, eight rebounds and six assists) and Austin Reaves (25 points, five assists), with the duo combining for 19-of-31 shooting from the field and 11 for 20 on 3-pointers, the Lakers struggled to find their offensive flow. They turned the ball over frequently (21 giveaways for 27 Bulls’ points). And their transition defense was well below their standard, with the Bulls (31-40) finishing with 30 fastbreak points after they consistently got to the rim or the shots they wanted with ease in the open floor. The Bulls’ scoring total was not only the most points the Lakers allowed in a game this season, but were tied for the most they’ve allowed a non-overtime home game, according to the Associated Press. “We gave em a little bit of everything,” James said. “Gave ’em points in the paint. We gave ’em fast break points and we gave ’em 3s. We can’t give everything.” And once the Bulls found their rhythm from beyond the arc in the second half, making 14 of their 19 3-point attempts (73.9%) in the final two quarters, the Lakers didn’t stand a chance, dropping their second consecutive home game after previously winning nine straight. “That’s the word that we’ve used a lot is edge, and you gotta play with an edge,” Redick said. “I told them this just and I don’t think this is like a secret, so I’m comfortable sharing this. But our success this season, since January, has been based on our defensive disposition, our ability to defend as a team, our individual pride on the ball and our individual pride in doing your job with whatever it may require. “A low man, a box out, a gang rebound, whatever it may require. That’s gonna determine our success for the next three weeks. And that’s gonna determine our success if we are able to secure a postseason berth.” James finished with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in 31 minutes in his first game since March 8 because of a strained left groin. “ A little rusty,” James said, “but I was happy to get back out there.” When asked whether he feels confident about the groin injury being behind him, James responded: “I just take it day by day. I can’t worry about what can happen in the future, but, I got through [Saturday.]” He added: “I’m obviously, get some work on it [on Sunday], hopefully a little bit on the plane. It’s a long flight to Orlando. And then once we get to Orlando and get ready for Monday. So I hope it’s behind, but I don’t wanna go too far in the future.” Doncic had seven turnovers while James finished with five. Hachimura had five points and two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench in his first game since Feb. 27 because of left patellar tendinopathy. He said postgame that he feels his knee is about 70-80%. “My knee is going to be like that for a while,” Hachimura added. “I can’t really get back to 100% right away. I got to rest for a long time to get back to normal. But I don’t think we have that, so we just got to maintain and manage it. We got to do it.” Coby White led the Bulls with a game-best 36 points, while rookie wing Matas Buzelis finished with a career-high 31 points. Josh Giddey nearly finished with a quadruple-double, recording 15 points, 17 assists, 10 rebounds and eight steals. The Lakers will kick off a four-game road trip against the Orlando Magic on Monday. “You gotta get reconnected,” Redick said. “And that’s where our group. We’ll get there. We, however, don’t have a lot of time to do that. And it’s gotta be now. It can’t be in a week. It can’t be in two weeks. It’s it’s gotta be now.” Related Articles Lakers | LeBron James, Rui Hachimura return in Lakers’ home game vs. Bulls Lakers | LeBron James, Rui Hachimura might return for Lakers’ game vs. Bulls Lakers | Lakers happy to put grueling stretch of schedule behind them Lakers | Swanson: JJ Redick is proving a natural as the Lakers’ coach Lakers | With stars out, Bronny James scores 17 in Lakers’ blowout loss to Bucks ...read more read less