LeBron James returns from 7-game injury absence, and nothing else goes right in Lakers' blowout loss

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James returned from a two-week injury absence Saturday night, looking rested and ready to lead the Los Angeles Lakers down the stretch toward the postseason.

And then almost nothing else went right for the Lakers during a 146-115 thrashing from the Chicago Bulls.

“We’ve got to play better basketball than we did tonight, and what we did on our last road trip,” James said before the Lakers headed out on a four-game trip beginning in Orlando on Monday.

James scored 17 points after missing the Lakers' previous seven games with a strained left groin, but the top scorer in NBA history looked rusty in certain moments — particularly late in the first quarter, when he threw a long sideline inbounds pass that curled out of bounds without ever getting close to one of his teammates.

But James' return was just one part of a comprehensively poor effort by the Lakers, who took their second straight loss and hit the latest trough in their peaks-and-valleys season since acquiring Luka Doncic.

Not even the simultaneous return of starting forward Rui Hachimura, who had missed 12 games with a knee injury, could make the Lakers competitive against the inspired Bulls.

“I don’t know if we assumed because we had everybody back that it was just going to be like it was three weeks ago, and that’s just not how this works,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “The thing that we have talked about all season long, though, is grace, so the group inherently gets some grace for what these last three weeks has looked like. (But) that was the worst our defense has looked, frankly, all year, but certainly in the last three months.”

Indeed, the Lakers have been one of the NBA's best teams for long stretches with their new superstar duo — but they've also had enough terrible outings to suggest there's much more work to do. Their schedule also has been absolutely brutal: They're in a stretch of 20 games in five weeks, and they just played five home games in seven days.

The 40-year-old James is still confident the Lakers will find the best version of themselves. They had won eight games in a row before James' injury, and they put together a three-game winning streak earlier this week before his return.

“I already know what this team is capable of,” James said. “No matter who’s been in the lineup, who’s been out of the lineup, we’ve been able to sustain our effort and try to continue to play the right way, both offensively and defensively. It was great to see, even through some of the adversity, even through the injuries and the schedule, we were still able to win ballgames.”

James was noncommittal about the state of his recovery from the groin injury, which happened late in the Lakers’ loss at defending champion Boston on March 8. Los Angeles promptly lost all four games on that road trip, but recovered to win three straight at home before its current two-game skid.

“I just take it day by day,” James said of his injury. “I can't work out what's going to happen in the future, but obviously I got some work on it today. Hopefully a little more on the plane. It's a long flight to Orlando, and then I'll get ready for Monday. I hope it's behind, but I won't look too far in the future.”

Before his injury, James averaged 25.0 points, 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds during his record-tying 22nd NBA season.

Hachimura is the Lakers' fourth-leading scorer with 13.3 points per game, but he scored five points in only 18 minutes during his comeback game. He said his knee is “70, 80 percent” healthy, but he can't wait for it to heal fully.

“Our defense was awful today,” Hachimura said. “We weren’t locked in, and our game plans, we didn’t execute. They were getting everything — 3s, transition, layups, whatever. I think we’ve just got to focus on defense. Our offense is going to be fine. We know that.”

Los Angeles lost to Milwaukee on Thursday while Doncic and Austin Reaves also sat out, leaving the Lakers without four usual starters to play their sixth game in eight days. Doncic and Reaves combined for 59 points against Chicago, but their teammates couldn't keep up.

“We just haven't had a lot of time with our full team available,” Redick said. “We've had to manage this all season long, no matter which iteration of this team it's been. So I'm excited for these last 13 games to build some continuity, build some chemistry, and hopefully the way we were playing prior to the Boston game, we can kind of get back to that.”

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Chicago Bulls guard Kevin Huerter (13) tries to steal the ball away from Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks in front of of Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, forward Rui Hachimura, second from left, guard Luka Doncic, second from right, and forward Markieff Morris sit on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after a foul was called during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, laughs as he sits on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills fans arrived early and lingered long after the game ended to bid what could be farewell to their long-time home stadium filled with 53 years of memories — and often piles of snow.

After singing along together to The Killers' “Mr. Brightside” in the closing minutes of a 35-8 victory against the New York Jets, most everyone in the crowd of 70,944 remained in their seats to bask in the glow of fireworks as Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World” played over the stadium speakers.

Several players stopped in the end zone to watch a retrospective video, with the Buffalo-based Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” as the soundtrack while fans recorded selfie videos of the celebratory scene. Offensive lineman Alec Anderson even jumped into the crowd to pose for pictures before leaving the field.

With the Bills (12-5), the AFC's 6th seed, opening the playoffs at Jacksonville in the wild-card round next week, there's but a slim chance they'll play at their old home again. Next season, Buffalo is set to move into its new $1.2 billion facility being built across the street.

The farewell game evoked “a lifetime of memories,” said Therese Forton-Barnes, selected the team’s Fan of the Year, before the Bills kicked of their regular-season finale. “In our culture that we know and love, we can bond together from that experience. Our love for this team, our love for this city, have branched from those roots.”

Forton-Barnes, a past president of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, attended Bills games as a child at the old War Memorial Stadium in downtown Buffalo, colloquially known as “The Rockpile.” She has been a season ticket holder since Jim Kelly joined the Bills in 1986 at what was then Rich Stadium, later renamed for the team’s founding owner Ralph Wilson, and then corporate sponsors New Era and Highmark.

“I’ve been to over 350 games,” she said. “Today we’re here to cherish and celebrate the past, present and future. We have so many memories that you can’t erase at Rich Stadium, The Ralph, and now Highmark. Forever we will hold these memories when we move across the street.”

There was a celebratory mood to the day, with fans arriving early. Cars lined Abbott Road some 90 minutes before the stadium lots opened for a game the Bills rested most of their starters, with a brisk wind blowing in off of nearby Lake Erie and with temperatures dipping into the low 20s.

And most were in their seats when Bills owner Terry Pegula thanked fans and stadium workers in a pregame address.

With Buffalo leading 21-0 at halftime, many fans stayed in their seats as Kelly and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed addressed them from the field, and the team played a video message from 100-year-old Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy.

“The fans have been unbelievable,” said Jack Hofstetter, a ticket-taker since the stadium opened in 1973 who was presented with Super Bowl tickets before Sunday’s game by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “I was a kid making 8 bucks a game back in those days. I got to see all the sports, ushering in the stadium and taking tickets later on. All the memories, it’s been fantastic.”

Bud Light commemorated the stadium finale and Bills fan culture with the release of a special-edition beer brewed with melted snow shoveled out of the stadium earlier this season.

In what has become a winter tradition at the stadium, fans were hired to clear the stands after a lake-effect storm dropped more than a foot of snow on the region this week.

The few remaining shovelers were still present clearing the pathways and end zone stands of snow some five hours before kickoff. The new stadium won’t require as many shovelers, with the field heated and with more than two-thirds of the 60,000-plus seats covered by a curved roof overhang.

Fears of fans rushing the field were abated with large contingent of security personnel and backed by New York State troopers began lining the field during the final 2-minute warning.

Fans stayed in the stands, singing along to the music, with many lingering to take one last glimpse inside the stadium where the scoreboard broadcast one last message:

“Thank You, Bills Mafia.”

AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) remains on the field to watch a tribute video after the Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans celebrate after the Buffalo Bills scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Fans celebrate and throw snow in the stands after an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Aga Deters, right, and her husband Fred Deters, walk near Highmark Stadium before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Michael Wygant shoves snow from a tunnel before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Alec Anderson (70) spikes the ball after running back Ty Johnson scored a touchdown against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FILE - The existing Highmark Stadium, foreground, frames the construction on the new Highmark Stadium, upper right, which is scheduled to open with the 2026 season, shown before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots, Oct. 5, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Salt crew member Jim Earl sprinkles salt in the upper deck before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)