In a startling collapse at the United Center on Thursday night, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered their most devastating loss of the season, losing 119-117 to the Chicago Bulls. With ten seconds left and a five-point lead, the Lakers were certain to win badly, but a wild sequence of events undid their lead and gave the Bulls an unlikely triumph.

With 9.8 seconds remaining, Patrick Williams made a corner three-pointer to cut the Lakers’ advantage to 115-113, starting the comeback. In a typical scenario, all the Lakers had to do was effectively inbound the ball and take the expected foul from the Bulls. But when Josh Giddey intercepted a soft-bounced inbound ball from LeBron James, catastrophe hit. Giddey found an open Coby White without hesitation, and he made a three-pointer to put Chicago ahead 116-115, shocking the Lakers and the sold-out crowd.

Nevertheless, Los Angeles reacted quickly. With just 3.3 seconds left, Austin Reaves, who had been leading the offensive effort, drove to the basket and scored to restore the 117-116 lead. But the Bulls had to improvise since they had no more timeouts. LeBron James contested late, but Giddey, who had just inbounded the ball, ran past halfcourt unimpeded and made a wild heave. As time ran out, the ball flew through the net, setting the United Center on fire and leaving the Lakers stunned.

Because of the high stakes and the likelihood of it happening, it was the kind of collapse that will live on in Los Angeles’ memory. Early in the fourth quarter, the Lakers had a lead of up to 18 points and appeared to be on track to overcome a recent downturn. Rather, they experienced what some analysts are referring to as the most agonizing loss experienced by any NBA team this season.

After the game, James, who accepted responsibility for the crucial blunder, was clearly irritated. “We put ourselves in a position to win,” James said. “I had a terrible turnover on my own. The play before that had a bad miscommunication. You tip your cap if someone scores a game-winning basket from half court, and AR (Austin Reaves) still made a huge basket to try to save us.”

Giddey recorded 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists for a triple-double. White, who led the Bulls with 26 points, including the crucial game-winning basket following James’ error, added to his valiant efforts. With timely shooting, especially the pivotal three-pointer that started the comeback, Williams contributed.

Reaves scored 30 points in an outstanding showing for the Lakers. James helped, but he had trouble with turnovers and making last-minute decisions, which ultimately resulted in the loss.

The setback prolongs Los Angeles’ dismal run. The Lakers had already lost games to the Bulls and the Orlando Magic after James returned from a two-week layoff due to a groin injury. James’ own buzzer-beating tip-in against the Indiana Pacers just a day before helped them avoid a losing streak, but the close call concealed more serious problems.

The Lakers dropped to 44-29 with the loss, maintaining their position as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. But with just nine games left, the squad and its supporters are becoming increasingly alarmed. With a healthy squad that included James, Anthony Davis, and a strong supporting cast, Los Angeles had championship hopes going into the season. However, they have struggled with consistency over the pivotal portion of the regular season.

Despite his disappointment, coach Darvin Ham kept his eyes on the goal. “It’s definitely difficult to accept,” Ham remarked. However, we must reorganize. With the standings as tight as they are, there is no time to think about it.

In an otherwise uneven season, the Bulls’ victory was yet another high point. Chicago, at 34-40, overcame a double-digit deficit against one of the league’s most seasoned teams in the game’s final seconds with elegance and tenacity. Coach Billy Donovan praised the performance, especially Giddey’s. Josh was amazing. Donovan said, “He never gave up on the play.” “That is the goal of this team.”

The Lakers’ playoff seeding is no longer the only concern; the team’s ability to work together and maintain composure in close games is also a factor.