This was a tighly contested game throughout, with the two teams trading blows back and forth until the Bulls ultimately had the final say.
Nick Young led all scorers with 31 points and sent the game into overtime by drawing a foul on Joakim Noah from behind the three-point line. Young would make all three free throws to knot up the score and force the extra session.
D.J. Augustin led Chicago with 27 points off the bench, and Noah posted 17 points and 21 rebounds in a monster all-around effort.
This was hardly a pretty affair, as the Bulls shot only 38.2 percent in the win. But then, when is a contest that involves Chicago ever pretty?
Tough loss for LA.
Still, head coach Mike D'Antoni has been happy with the effort his team has been showing of late.
Key Player Grades
Los Angeles Lakers
Pau Gasol, Center
How about the monstrous effort from Pau Gasol on both ends of the floor Monday night?
Gasol turned back the clock with a masterful performance against the Bulls, tallying 20 points, 19 rebounds, five blocks and three steals.
Talk about doing it all.
For the first time in what seems like, well, forever, Gasol served as a stout force on the defensive side of the ball, constantly contesting shots, and if he wasn't blocking them, he was at least altering them.
Pau also made some huge plays in the fourth quarter, including a beautiful move in the post where he spun baseline by Joakim Noah and made a nifty reverse layup. That was part of a run of six straight points by the Spaniard.
Unfortunately, Gasol clearly ran out of gas in overtime, committing a couple of costly turnovers. It's hard to bla...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
