LeBron James believes the Los Angeles Lakers remain in control of their own destiny after his team suffered a big defeat to the Chicago Bulls on his injury comeback.

Coby White scored 36 points and Josh Giddey flirted with a quadruple-double as the Bulls spoiled James' return with an impressive 146-115 road victory on Saturday.

James had missed seven games with a groin injury, while Rui Hachimura also returned having been out for 12 games with a knee problem, but Los Angeles then played perhaps its worst defensive game.

Luka Doncic scored 29 of his 34 points in the first half and hit eight 3-pointers, while James had 17 points, but neither superstar could do a thing to slow the Bulls, who scorched Los Angeles' normally sturdy defense on the way to their seventh win in nine games. 

Chicago's 146 points were 12 more than the Lakers had allowed in any game this season, and James' team have now lost six of their last nine in the NBA.

The Lakers sit fourth in the close Western Conference standings, still just 2.5 games behind the Houston Rockets in second while at the same time only three games clear of the Los Angeles Clippers in seventh.

"We have got 12 games to position ourselves in the postseason," James said, per ESPN, after going 7-of-16 shooting, adding 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 5 turnovers.

"We pretty much can control our own destiny if we win ballgames and not have to be in the play-in."

Asked whether he felt fully recovered from his injury, James replied: "I just take it day by day. I hope it is behind [me], but I don't want to go too far in the future."

Final pic.twitter.com/utR1PtSy2L

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 23, 2025

Coach JJ Redick wants the Lakers to secure the No. 6 seed or better in order to secure a week of rest between the end of the regular season and the playoffs.

Redick and Doncic both said they were keen to avoid facing a must-win scenario in the play-in tournament as they turn their attention to Monday’s road game against the Orlando Magic.

"I think that's a good way to look at it... ground zero," Redick said.

"These next 12 games, you've got to re-find your way. It's a perpetually flowing river that we've all of a sudden run into a beaver's [dam] and we got to get ready to get the water flowing again."

"I think we're in a great spot," added Doncic. "Obviously, this wasn't a good game for us, but I think we're in a great spot. 

"We've got to play hard every game to try not to get in the play-in. We have got to try to get the highest seed we can."

Los Angeles was in the play-in tournament for three of the last four seasons.

This was Chicago's night, with Matas Buzelis scoring 31 points and Giddey recording 15 points, 17 assists, 10 rebounds and eight steals. 

White was dominant while hitting six 3-pointers, and eight Bulls scored at least nine points on the fifth stop of a six-game road trip.

Austin Reaves (25 points) and Doncic kept it close through halftime, but White scored 12 points while Chicago steadily pulled away with a 39-point third quarter.

The Bulls improved to 31-40 and sit ninth in the Eastern Conference standings going into their next game at the Denver Nuggets.