- The Viral Moment: Jaxson Hayes pulled off a rare in-game between-the-legs (Eastbay) dunk in transition, sending social media into a frenzy.
- The Box Score: Los Angeles dismantled Chicago 129-118, shooting a collective 56% from the field.
- The Record: Luka Doncic dropped 46 points and became the fastest player in Lakers history to reach 2,000 career points (65 games).
CHICAGO — With 3:42 left in the third quarter, Jaxson Hayes snatched the ball from Josh Giddey, sprinted the length of the floor, and did the unthinkable. Instead of a safe flush, the Lakers big man pulled the ball through his legs mid-air, hammering home a dunk that left the United Center in stunned silence. On the sideline, teammate Luka Doncic stood with his hands on his head, his face a mask of pure disbelief.
Luka Magic and the Chicago Rout
The dunk served as the exclamation point on a night where Los Angeles simply outclassed the Bulls. Luka Doncic delivered a masterclass, finishing with 46 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds. He lived behind the arc, drilling 8-of-14 three-pointers. The performance wasn’t just about the win; it was historical. By crossing the 2,000-point mark in just 65 games as a Laker, Doncic surpassed the pace set by LeBron James and Magic Johnson.
Chicago tried to keep pace behind Coby White’s 23 points, but they had no answer for the Lakers’ size. The visitors dominated the paint and turned 14 Bulls turnovers into 22 transition points. LeBron James added 24 points, while Rui Hachimura sparked the bench with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting.
Game Leaders: Lakers vs. Bulls (Jan 26, 2026)
| Player | PTS | AST | REB | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic (LAL) | 46 | 11 | 7 | 8/14 3PT |
| LeBron James (LAL) | 24 | 5 | 9 | 9/19 FG |
| Rui Hachimura (LAL) | 23 | 2 | 3 | 9/11 FG |
| Coby White (CHI) | 23 | 8 | 4 | 5/10 3PT |
What They Said
Lakers head coach JJ Redick, known for his analytical approach, couldn’t help but marvel at the raw athleticism displayed by Hayes.
“I’m not going to lie—I held my breath. You don’t see that in a live game. But Jaxson has that level of bounce. It shifted the entire energy of the building. We fed off that for the rest of the night.” — JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach
Doncic, laughing in the post-game locker room, admitted he was worried about the consequences of a miss.
“I was just thinking, ‘Please make it, please make it.’ Because if he misses, coach is going to be so mad. But he’s a freak athlete. I’ve never seen anything like it in person.” — Luka Doncic
What This Means: Standings & Road Trip Momentum
This 129-118 victory pushes the Lakers to 28-17, keeping them within striking distance of the top three seeds in the Western Conference. They are now 3-1 on their current eight-game road trip. The win is particularly crucial as they head to Cleveland tonight for a back-to-back against the Cavaliers. For Chicago, the loss drops them to 23-23, leaving them stuck in the middle of a crowded Eastern Conference Play-In race.
