Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 113-93 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
2
Consecutive games missed by Kobe Bryant, who has been given time to rest after averaging 35.4 minutes in the team's first 27 games. Two days after beating Golden State, 115-105, in their first game of the season without Bryant, the Lakers had a much less impressive showing. L.A.’s scoring was once again balanced, as five players finished in double figures, but it was also inefficient, with the Lakers shooting just 36-for-92 (39.1 percent). Aside from Bryant and Carlos Boozer (7-for-11), L.A.’s top three scorers — Nick Young (1-for-6), Jordan Hill (6-for-16) and Jeremy Lin (2-for-8) — combined to shoot 30.0 percent.
“Nobody can replace Kobe, so we all got to come together and step our games up,” Wayne Ellington said. “That’s all to it. We gotta come together collectively, and we gotta bring more energy. We got to fight harder.”
14
Rebounds from Ed Davis, including eight boards in the first quarter alone. The first-year Laker’s total tied for the third-highest in his career, and half of his rebounds came on the offensive glass. Davis added 13 points to notch his first double-double in the purple and gold, while also pitching in three blocks.
23
Points scored by Pau Gasol. The seven-year Laker led all players in scoring to push his new team past his former. Gasol went 9-for-14 from the field and also snagged 13 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the year. The two-time NBA champion did most of his damage down low, as he scored a game-high 12 points in the paint.
“You see people that you shared so much with and the jersey that you wore for so many years, so it gets a little bit emotional,” Gasol said. “But once you lock in and you focus on what you need to do on the floor. You focus on playing well, helping your team to win.”
29.2
Percentage shot by L.A. in the fourth quarter. The Lakers went 7-for-24 for 16 points, with only Boozer (3-for-4) in rhythm. Meanwhile, the Bulls shot 9-for-21 (42.9 percent), while also doubling the Lakers’ nine fourth-quarter rebounds en route to 30 points in the final period.
57
Rebounds by Chicago, which outrebounded the Lakers by 18. L.A. initially had the advantage on the boards, as it held a 17-11 edge in the first quarter. Along with Gasol, Joakim Noah (12) led his team in rebounding, while also recording a team-best 41.4 rebound percentage.
“They’re a long, aggressive rebounding team,” head coach Byron Scott said. “You don’t do your work early and block them out, you’ll make it a jumping contest and you’re gonna lose that nine out of 10 times. Third and fourth quarter, they killed us on the offensive glass.”