Lakers topple the Bulls, 123-118, in double overtime

The Lakers avoided tying a franchise-worst 10-game losing streak by stopping the bleeding with a hard-fought, 123-118 double-overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night at Staples Center.

With a nine-point advantage with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter, the Lakers stumbled with Chicago All-Star guard Jimmy Butler scoring seven consecutive points, followed by a tip-in shot by former Laker Pau Gasol to tie the score at 98.

Jordan Hill missed a jumper with 1.7 seconds left, but redeemed himself in the final second of the first overtime by hitting a jump shot to tie the score at 106 with 16.2 seconds left.

Derrick Rose, who shot seven for 26 from the field for the game while scoring 17 points, missed a jumper that would have won it in overtime for Chicago.

Wayne Ellington scored the first four points in the second overtime. The Lakers’ defense held on as Chicago tired, leading to the five-point victory.

Hill led the Lakers with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Ellington scored 21 in 47 minutes, while guard Jordan Clarkson, in the fourth start of his rookie season, finished with 18 points and four assists in 43 minutes.

Carlos Boozer contributed 16 points and eight rebounds against the team that waived him over the summer. Jeremy Lin scored 11 and had five assists. Ed Davis had 10 points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes.

Robert Sacre played major minutes down the stretch before fouling out with nine points, nine rebounds and four assists. The Lakers shot 47.2% from the field.

Butler led the Bulls with 35 points in 49 minutes, making 16 of 18 free throws. Gasol finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Joakim Noah neared a triple-double with nine points, nine assists and 17 rebounds. Aaron Brooks was ejected near the end of the game after contributing 15 points. Tony Snell scored 10 for Chicago, which shot 41.3% from the field.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 13-34. They’ll visit the New York Knicks (9-37) on Sunday morning. The Bulls (30-18) travel to Phoenix to play the Suns (27-20) on Friday.

Lakers 106, Bulls 106 (end of first overtime)

Joakim Noah blocked Wayne Ellington’s driving layup with 20 seconds left but Jordan Hill hit a jumper to tie the score at 106 with 16.2 seconds left.

Derrick Rose had a shot to win the game, but it fell short.

Ellington made a driving layup to give the Lakers their first field goal of overtime, closing them to within a point of the Bulls with 50.5 seconds left. The Lakers first four points in extra time came at the free-throw line.

Pau Gasol hit a jump shot and made a layup in overtime but converted only one of two free throws, leaving the door open for the Lakers to tie.

Chicago guard Jimmy Butler leads all scorers with 33 points. Gasol has 19 points and Rose 17.

Hill leads the Lakers with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Ellington has 19 points while Jordan Clarkson and Carlos Boozer each have 16.

Lakers 98, Bulls 98 (end of fourth quarter)

The Lakers saw a late nine-point evaporate by the end of the fourth quarter Thursday night.

After leading by as many as 15 points, the Lakers’ lead closed to a point on Jimmy Butler’s steal and breakaway dunk with 8:39 left in the final quarter. The Lakers responded with eight straight points over the next three minutes.

Chicago pushed back to within five points, but Jordan Clarkson made a running bank shot, plus drew a foul and made a free throw, to give the Lakers a nine-point cushion with just over two minutes left.

After Lakers turnovers on consecutive possessions, seven consecutive points from Jimmy Butler and a tip-in by Pau Gasol, the Bulls tied the score at 98.

Jordan Hill’s jumper didn’t drop with 1.7 seconds left, forcing an overtime session.

All-Star Jimmy Butler leads all scorers with 33 points. Hill has 22 for the Lakers.

Lakers 80, Bulls 76 (end of third quarter)

The Bulls went on a late run in the third quarter to close to within two points of the Lakers, who had led by as many as 15.

Jordan Clarkson scored his ninth point of the night with 38 seconds left to give the Lakers a four-point edge hearing into the fourth.

The Lakers shot 50.7% from the field, led by Jordan Hill with 19 points and eight rebounds. Carlos Boozer scored 14 while Jeremy Lin, Wayne Ellington and Clarkson each scored nine.

Chicago made 45.8% of their shots from the field and 82.6% (19 of 23) from the free-throw line. The Lakers took only nine free throws, making seven (77.8%).

Bulls guard Jimmy Butler scored 22 to lead all scorers, making 12 of 14 at the line. Derrick Rose scored 12, Aaron Brooks 10 and Pau Gasol eight.

Lakers 59, Bulls 48 (halftime)

The Lakers continued to pour it on the Bulls in the second quarter, finishing with 59 points while shooting 58.7% from the field in the first half.

Carlos Boozer torched his old team for 14 points on seven-of-10 shooting. Jordan Hill added 11 points, while Jeremy Lin and Ed Davis contributed eight each off the bench.

The Bulls shot 45% from the field and 91.7% (11 of 12) from the free-throw line but struggled defensively.

Derrick Rose had 10 points and three assists in the first half for the Bulls. Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler each added eight points for Chicago.

The Lakers outrebounded the Bulls, 22-12.

Lakers 28, Bulls 19 (end of first quarter)

Pau Gasol received a gracious standing ovation by the Staples Center crowd before the Lakers gave the Bulls a challenging first quarter.

The Lakers shot 56.5% from the field, pushing ahead by as many as 12 points. Carlos Boozer led the Lakers with six points against his former team. Jordan Clarkson added five.

Derrick Rose and Gasol each scored six for the Bulls, who shot 40% from the field.

The Lakers scored 16 of their 28 points in the paint but didn’t shoot a free throw. The Bulls scored only eight points in the paint while making their two free-throw attempts.

Pregame

The Lakers (12-34) will play Pau Gasol and the Chicago Bulls (30-17) on Thursday night at Staples Center.

Jimmy Butler (illness) and Mike Dunleavy (ankle) are questionable for the Bulls.

The Lakers will be without Nick Young (ankle) as well as Kobe Bryant (shoulder), Julius Randle (knee) and Steve Nash (back), who are all done for the season.

For an in-depth breakdown, check out check out Preview: Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.