Heartbreak in Chicago as Giddey stuns Lakers with miracle buzzer-beater

From joy to heartbreak in just 24 hours. The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Chicago Bulls, 119-117, on Friday after a stunning buzzer-beater – just a day after claiming a last-second win over the Pacers in Indiana (119-120). The NBA gives. The NBA takes away. And on this night, the executioner was Josh Giddey.

The Australian, who joined Chicago from Oklahoma in June in the trade for Alex Caruso, dropped 25 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists – his fifth triple-double of the season, and his second against the Lakers. Giddey’s heroics came in spectacular fashion: rising from near half court, right on the Bulls logo, he launched the ball as the backboard lit up and drained a miraculous three. A stunning shot that erupted the United Center.

It was a crushing defeat – “devastating,” as head coach JJ Redick put it. The Lakers had the game in hand: they led 110-115 with just 12 seconds left after two clutch free throws from Austin Reaves, who was phenomenal with 30 points. But everything unraveled from there.

Patrick Williams nailed a three, then Coby White – who finished with 26 points and 9 assists – hit another one off a Giddey assist. That came after Giddey stole the ball following a poor baseline inbounds play from LeBron James. 116-115. The tide had turned – and it wasn’t done yet.

Reaves briefly reclaimed the lead for the Lakers with a smooth drive, but with everyone expecting overtime or a Lakers win, Giddey inbounded, got the ball back, and heaved in a last-gasp triple that defied belief. The Aussie closed out a 24-12 run in just 4:30. “It’s a terrible way to lose a basketball game,” Redick added, as his team continues to slide down the stretch – just one win in their last five outings.

The final sequence

Out of their last 12 games, the Lakers have only won four – a troubling slump in a fiercely competitive Western Conference. With nine games left, they sit fourth at 44-29, but just 2.5 games ahead of the seventh-place Golden State Warriors, who occupy the first play-in spot. Danger looms.

“Wow! Probably the craziest game of my life,” wrote Kevin Huerter on social media. Huerter scored 21 points (5-for-10 from three) and played a crucial role in pulling the Bulls back into the game when they were down by 10 with 4:35 to go (95-105).

LeBron James had an off night, finishing with 17 points. Luka Dončić, meanwhile, was again impressive – flirting with a triple-double on 25 points (4-for-12 from deep), 10 rebounds and 8 assists, with just one turnover. But none of that mattered – the coin landed on the wrong side for the Lakers this time.

NBA round-up:

• Cleveland Cavaliers 124 – San Antonio Spurs 116
• Orlando Magic 92 – Dallas Mavericks 101
• Washington Wizards 109 – Indiana Pacers 162
• Miami Heat 122 – Atlanta Hawks 112
• Oklahoma City Thunder 125 – Memphis Grizzlies 104
• Utah Jazz 110 – Houston Rockets 121
• Sacramento Kings 128 – Portland Trail Blazers 107

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