Even in a 129–118 road win over the Chicago Bulls and despite a 46-point masterclass from Luka Doncic, the defining moment of the night for the Los Angeles Lakers came not from a made shot, but from a timeout huddle.

Midway through the second quarter, cameras caught LeBron James animatedly barking at his teammates on the bench, demanding the ball with unmistakable intensity. The Bulls’ local broadcast on CHSN zoomed in, and play-by-play announcer Adam Amin couldn’t help but point it out to color commentator Stacey King.

“Look at him on the bench in that last timeout — ‘Give me the ball,’” Amin said.

Moments later, with the crowd’s attention fully locked on James, the Lakers came out of the timeout, and all eyes followed what happened next.

The King, on the next possession, backed down smaller forward Isaac Okoro to the mid-post area, taking a turnaround hook. Unfortunately for him, it was an ugly airball, one that stood out during an otherwise amazing performance from the 41-year-old.

Tonight, James finished with 24 points, five rebounds and three assists on solid efficiency, including 20 points in just the first half. He complemented Doncic well and was a stabilizing presence for a team that has excelled in late-game execution this season.

After a slow start to the season, it seems like James is rounding back into a form reminiscent of his last few years. Over the month of January, with Austin Reaves missing due to a calf injury, James has stepped up his play and averaged 24.8 points, 7.3 assists, and 7.5 rebounds on 52.1% from the field, which would earn him an All-Star nomination any other year.

Those are All-Star caliber numbers, and should earn him a reserve spot, a first in his career, if things go well. Those numbers were needed against the Bulls.

Luka Doncic Takes Over as LeBron James and Lakers’ Defense Sets the Tone

Luka Doncic’s 46 points coincided with one of the Lakers‘ sharpest offensive nights, along with a defensive edge that set the tone early tonight. Against the Bulls, the Lakers knocked down 16 threes and shot 56.1% from the field, but the key factor was on the other end of the floor.

LA forced 15 turnovers, 12 of which came in the first half, turning them into 23 points to control the game for all of the final three quarters.

The opening minutes belonged to LeBron James, who shouldered the early load with six of the team’s 12 points to start. Then, Doncic found his rhythm and helped lead a 9-0 run to end the first, spilling into a 16-2 run in the second.

The frontcourt trio of Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes played stifling defense, and Doncic helped the team keep pace with perimeter offense.

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The Bulls pushed back in the third, briefly making it a one-possession game during a 29-12 run as LA’s defense wavered. Whenever momentum threatened to flip, Doncic answered back, pouring in 20 points in the quarter, hitting timely shots and reasserting control with Hachimura’s solid night off the bench.

Hayes punctuated the win in the fourth with a between-the-legs dunk off a steal, sealing a huge night driven by collective defensive intent.