Second Half Surge Pushes Lakers Over Bulls 106-78

The Chicago Bulls put on one of their strongest performances of the season Sunday night for the first 24 minutes of their game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately for Chicago, as you are well aware there are 48 minutes in a NBA game. In that portion they did not play so well. The Bulls walked into the locker room at the Staples Center at the half leading 46-45. The Lakers woke up from their nap in the second half to outscore Chicago 61-43, and went on to win the game 106-78.

The Bulls went ice cold scoring wise in the second half. their shooting percentage for the game was an anemic 34.8% while going just 5/20 from outside the arc. Chicago was led by guard Ben Gordon who had a team high 20 points shooting 8-17 from the field o/2 from three point and 4-4 from the line. Bulls forward Andres Nocioni with 14 points was the only other Chicago player in double figures.

It was quite a contrast for the Lakers who had six players in double figures led by Kobe Bryant who also threw up a lot of air balls going 6/16 but scored 18 points. Center Andrew Bynum came off the bench as Kwame Brown got a rare start (must be shopping him) and Bynum scored 14 points, and a game high 10 rebounds. Guard Jordan Farmar also scored 14 off the bench with 8 assists, Chris Mihm and Vladimir Radmanovic each had 11, and Luke Walton had 10. Lakers now have a record of 6-3 while Chicago falls to 2-7.