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[Saba Sports News] LeBron James made his return Saturday night after missing six games with a groin injury, but his presence wasn’t enough to stop the Lakers from getting blown out by the Bulls, 146–115. Despite the lopsided loss, James remains optimistic about the team’s playoff outlook.
James finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists in his first game back. But none of it mattered much, as the Lakers couldn’t get a stop on defense all night. Still, LeBron isn’t panicking.
“We got 12 games to position ourselves in the postseason,” he said postgame. “We pretty much can control our own destiny if we win ballgames and not have to be in the play-in.”
The Lakers now sit at 43–27, holding the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. They’re just half a game behind Denver for the No. 3 spot, and have a three-game cushion over the No. 7 Clippers. If L.A. can handle business down the stretch, they’re in good shape to lock up a top-six seed and avoid the play-in entirely.
That said, Saturday’s performance left plenty to be desired. Giving up 145 points won’t win you many games. The silver lining? The Lakers are finally getting healthy — and LeBron’s return is the biggest step forward as the postseason looms.
They’ll look to bounce back Monday night when they take on the Orlando Magic.