The Chicago Bulls (9-4) travel to Staples Center Monday to take on the Los Angeles Lakers (8-6). Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Bulls at Lakers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
With both teams expecting to miss All-Star-caliber players, the Chicago Bulls will enter this game led by SG Zach LaVine and the league’s top fourth-quarter scorer in PF DeMar DeRozan.
The Bulls have cooled off since their ultra-hot start and are now 6-4 in their last 10, starting the season off with an impressive four-game win streak. They most recently snapped the Los Angeles Clippers’ 7-game winning streak and will stay in L.A. for their matchup with the LeBron James-less Lakers.
Not having PF James didn’t matter against the San Antonio Spurs as C Anthony Davis put up 34 points. Davis and PG Russell Westbrook are the Lakers’ two leaders when James is sidelined.
After a slow start, the Lakers have won three of their last four.
Bulls at Lakers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:32 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bulls -112 (bet $112 to win $100) | Lakers -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls -1.5 (-102) | Lakers +1.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Bulls at Lakers key injuries
Bulls
- Injury report not yet submitted
- C Nikola Vucevic (health and safety protocols) expected to be out
Lakers
- Injury report not yet submitted
- PF LeBron James (abdomen) expected to be out
Bulls at Lakers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Bulls 109, Lakers 105
Money line
PASS with a “lean” to the Bulls (-112).
At one point, I’d rather go with a spread option, because getting the Bulls at a marginally better price is too tempting. There hasn’t been a one-point difference to end a game since Nov. 6, more than 60 NBA games ago.
Against the spread
BET on the BULLS -1.5 (-102). This game really shouldn’t be a two-point game.
While Chicago hasn’t played as well as when the season started, it is still the more competent side. LaVine and DeRozan are legitimate stars. The Bulls rank 13th in offensive rating and fifth in defensive.
The Lakers are 23rd and 12th, respectively. The Lakers also have the fourth-worst turnover rate and the 14th-worst true-shooting percentage, both significantly lower than Chicago.
The Lakers are 1-2 against teams with top-10 rated defenses (beating the Cleveland Cavaliers and losing to the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns).
The Lakers are .500 over their last six with two losses to sub-.500 teams. They just can’t be trusted. For that reason, I’m backing the Bulls and expecting them to win by more than one.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 216.5 (-107) as the better value on the total. While there are at least four stars on the court in this game, Westbrook and LaVine have both proven to be sporadic at times.
Both teams have a better rated defense than offense. While the Lakers do rank third in pace, as noted, they also rank bottom five in turnover rate. The Bulls are 15th in pace.
The Bulls have the sixth-highest opponents’ turnover percentage. With PG Lonzo Ball and SG Alex Caruso taking on the Lakers’ Westbrook and SG Malik Monk, the advantage, especially defensively, goes to Chicago.
For those reasons combined, I favor the Under.
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