Chicago Bulls 119 – Los Angeles Lakers 117
The Final 12 Seconds: Chaos in Chicago
- Lakers Lead 115-110 with 12 seconds left after LeBron James’ clutch free throws.
- Patrick Williams (Bulls) drains a contested three-pointer to cut the deficit to 115-113.
- LeBron’s Turnover: On the inbound pass, James throws the ball directly to Josh Giddey, who immediately dishes to Coby White for a go-ahead three-pointer (116-115 Bulls).
- Austin Reaves Responds: The Lakers guard drives for a layup with 1.8 seconds left, putting L.A. up 117-116.
- Giddey’s Miracle: With no timeouts, Giddey grabs the inbound pass, takes two dribbles, and launches a 55-foot heave over LeBron. The shot banks in as the buzzer sounds, triggering bedlam in the United Center.
Josh Giddey’s Ascendance
1. Historic Stat Line:
- 25 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists – Giddey’s third triple-double in four games.
- Post All-Star Surge: Averaging 22.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 9.1 APG on elite efficiency (54.3% FG, 53.1% 3PT).
- Earlier in the week, he nearly recorded a quadruple-double (15 pts, 10 reb, 17 ast, 8 stl) in a 146-115 rout of the Lakers.
2. From Scrutiny to Stardom:
- Earlier this season, Bulls commentator Stacey King criticized Giddey’s energy, suggesting he be benched during a five-game losing streak.
- Post-game, King did a 180, dubbing him “Magic Giddey” and shouting, “G’day mate! Somewhere in Australia… Paul Hogan is up there, Crocodile Dundee!”
3. Fan & Media Reactions:
- Social media erupted, with fans calling it the “greatest half-court shot ever” and declaring Giddey the Bulls’ new franchise cornerstone.
- Comparisons to Ben Simmons (another Aussie star) trended, with fans mocking Simmons’ offensive hesitancy vs. Giddey’s clutch gene.
LeBron’s Rollercoaster Week
- 24 Hours Prior: James hit a game-winner against Indiana, further solidifying his “clutch” reputation.
- 24 Hours Later: He became a stunned spectator as Giddey’s shot sailed over him. The loss dropped the Lakers to .500 (37-37), intensifying pressure to secure Play-In Tournament positioning.
- Stat Line: LeBron finished with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, but his late turnover and defensive lapse overshadowed his performance.
Bigger Implications
1. Bulls’ Playoff Push:
- Chicago (42-32) now sits 5th in the East, eyeing home-court advantage in the first round.
- Giddey’s emergence as a triple-double machine has transformed the Bulls into a dark-horse contender.
2. Lakers’ Identity Crisis:
- Despite LeBron and Anthony Davis (28 pts, 12 reb), L.A. continues to falter in close games (now 2-8 in contests decided by ≤3 points).
- Questions linger about Darvin Ham’s coaching and the supporting cast’s reliability.
3. Giddey’s Legacy Moment:
- The shot instantly entered NBA lore, drawing comparisons to Damian Lillard’s 2019 series-winner vs. OKC and Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 “The Shot” in Toronto.
- For Giddey, it’s a career-defining highlight that cements his status as one of the league’s most exciting young stars.
Quotes of the Night
- Josh Giddey: “It was a pretty special moment. As soon as it left my fingertips, it felt good. The crowd, the energy… you dream about shots like that.”
- Stacey King (on air): “Magic Giddey! Chicago, we’ve got our own superhero! Somebody check the roof—this man just blew it off!”
- LeBron James (post-game): “Tip your cap to Giddey. That’s a shot you pray doesn’t go in. But that’s sports—sometimes you’re the hero, sometimes you’re the highlight.”
What’s Next?
- Bulls: Host Boston (April 1) in a potential playoff preview.
- Lakers: Face Minnesota (March 30) in a must-win to avoid Play-In chaos.
- Giddey Watch: All eyes on whether he can sustain his MVP-caliber play.
