LeBron James’ return fails to save Lakers from loss in NBA game.

First forfeited on Saturday evening, then uncertain on the morning of the match, “LBJ” finally played 30 minutes off the bench after being sidelined for a month due to a right foot injury.

The Lakers star racked up 19 points (8 rebounds) for the second game of his career as a substitute in 20 league seasons.

But that was not enough against the Bulls carried by Zach LaVine (32 pts) and DeMar DeRozan (17 pts, 10 assists).

“I take my hat off to them,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “They showed a sense of urgency tonight. We arrived a little flat, we lost the ball very early. We weren’t aggressive enough, physical enough. »

In post-game conference, James, 38 but still in dazzling form when he’s on the court, revealed he turned down foot surgery so he could fight for a playoff berth.

The Lakers fall to 9^e rank in the Western Conference, just ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which won against Portland (112-118) and occupies the last qualifying spot for the playoffs.

For their part, the Bulls confirm their tenth place in the East, just behind Toronto, winner (114-104) of Washington, which falls to twelfth place and sees its chances of participating in the dams dwindling.

The qualified Cavs

Also losing to the Timberwolves (96-99), Stephen Curry’s Warriors (20 pts, 9 assists), 6^e in the West and virtually last automatically qualified for the playoffs, let Minnesota get dangerously close in the standings. Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 18 rebounds for Wolves.

In Atlanta, the Hawks lost (119-123) to Memphis, led by the 27 units of Ja Morant who returned to the starting line, and see their eighth place in the Eastern Conference seriously threatened.

Earlier in the day, despite the 40 points and 12 rebounds of its star Luka Doncic, Dallas lost against Charlotte, one of the worst NBA teams (110-104).

The Mavs are still stomping at 11^e rank in a very tight Western conference, where only four victories separate the 6^e from 12^e.

And they will have to do without Doncic on Monday in Indiana, the Slovenian leader having been sanctioned with his 16^e technical foul of the season, synonymous with suspension of a match.

At the top of the standings in the East, Cleveland dominated Houston (108-91) and scored their ticket to the playoffs, a first since 2018.

It’s the first time since 1998 that the Cavs have reached the playoffs without LeBron James.

Finally, in the absence of injured Jayson Tatum, Boston relied on Jaylen Brown (41 pts, 13 rebounds) to correct San Antonio (137-93), penultimate in the West.

The Celtics thus keep the pressure on Milwaukee in the race for first place in the East.