Luka Doncic scores 46 points as Lakers hold off Bulls

CHICAGO — Luka Doncic had 46 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 129-118 victory on Monday night.

LeBron James scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half as Los Angeles improved to 3-1 on an eight-game trip. Rui Hachimura added 23 points on 9-for-11 shooting.

The Lakers were swept by Chicago in their two-game series last season, including a wild 119-117 loss at the United Center on Josh Giddey’s half-court shot at the buzzer.

Coby White scored 23 points for Chicago on Monday night, and Ayo Dosunmu had 20. The Bulls had won four in a row and five of six overall.

Chicago went 18 for 49 from three-point range. It has made at least 17 threes in its last five games.

Los Angeles led by as many as 20 points, but Chicago closed to 81-80 on Nikola Vucevic’s two foul shots with 6:42 left in the third quarter.

But Marcus Smart responded with a three-point play for the Lakers. Doncic then made two free throws and Hachimura connected from deep to make it 89-80 with 4:38 left.

Doncic made a three and another foul shot to lift Los Angeles to a 104-89 lead going into the fourth. Doncic scored 20 points in the third on 6-for-9 shooting.

The Lakers shot 56 per cent(46 for 82) from the field, including a 16-for-33 performance from three-point range.

The Bulls had six players score in double figures. Vucevic had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Giddey finished with 19 points.

Los Angeles moved in front with a 25-6 run that started late in the first quarter and carried over to the second. James’ fast-break jam made it 51-37 with 7:19 left.

The Bulls closed the first half with a 7-0 spurt, trimming the Lakers’ lead to 69-56. Doncic had 17 points and eight assists in the first half.

Lakers: At Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Bulls: At Indiana on Wednesday night.