Patrick Williams Says Lakers' LeBron James Was Calling Bulls' Plays During Game

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Lakers didn't have too much trouble with the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, jumping out to a 63-33 halftime lead before winning 101-90. The Lakers' defensive effort was exceptional, with Chicago shooting just 39.3 percent from the field.

Bulls rookie forward Patrick Williams pointed out a big reason for the Lakers' success, as relayed by Cody Westerlund of 670 The Score:

Chicago scored just 17 first-quarter points before adding 16 more in the second.

The Bulls finally got it going in the second half, but it was too little, too late by then; the team piled on garbage-time points that made the game appear closer than it actually was.

L.A. is now an NBA-best 13-4 thanks in part to owning the league's top defensive rating, per Basketball Reference. The Lakers' net rating is also first as well.

Chicago may be a young and rebuilding team that features a brand new front office and coaching staff this year, but the team entered Saturday excelling on offense, scoring the fourth-most points per game in the NBA and earning the No. 11 offensive rating, per Basketball-Reference.

The Bulls got nothing going in the first half, though, and the Lakers built an insurmountable lead.

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The Lakers will look to continue their defensive prowess against the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road Monday, while the Bulls will host the Boston Celtics.