Thursday’s nine-game schedule in the NBA is headlined in part by the nightcap at 10:30 pm ET between the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles is 40-25 and well inside the automatic playoff cut line in the Western Conference. Chicago has been all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention at 27-38.
Let’s dive into my Bulls vs. Lakers predictions.
Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers odds
Money line: Bulls +400 / Lakers -535
Spread: Bulls +10 (-102) / Lakers -10 (-118)
Total: Over 238.5 (-105) / Under 238.5 (-115)
Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers best bet #1: Lakers -10 (-118)
This is simply a tale of two teams going in opposite directions. The Lakers have won six of their last seven games and will continue to play inspired basketball as they try to avoid the play-in tournament in the West and perhaps even climb as high as the No. 3 seed. The Bulls are a laughable 4-16 in their last 20 games, which has ended their playoff hopes and has left them playing for nothing. Adding insult to injury (or vice versa), almost everyone on Chicago’s roster has some kind of injury designation. Among others, Anfernee Simons (wrist) is out for Thursday; Isaac Okoro (knee), Collin Sexton (leg), and Patrick Williams (ankle) are questionable.
LeBron James is questionable for L.A. after missing the past last three contests with foot and hip issues. It sounds like he has a good chance to return today — but even if he doesn’t, it shouldn’t matter. After all, Los Angeles has won its last three game without LBJ by 11, 13 and 14 points — the latter two over the Knicks and Timberwolves in especially impressive fashion.
These two teams previously faced each other on January 26, when the Lakers went into Chicago and cruised 129-118 after leading by as many as 20 points. Chicago is 2-6 against the spread in its last eight overall. L.A. is 6-1 ATS in its last seven overall and 4-0 ATS in its last four home games.
Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers best player prop bet: Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 three-pointers (-110)
Hachimura has exceeded this 1.5 number in three of his last four appearances and in five of his last seven. This hot stretch from deep features a performance with four triples against the Nuggets last Thursday. The former Gonzaga standout, who averages 11.6 ppg, has scored 13 points or more in three of the last four games.
Hachimura now faces a Bulls team that is sixth worst in the NBA in three-point percentage defense at 36.8. Chicago just watched the Warriors sink 20 shots from downtown on Tuesday. When the Bulls and Lakers met in January, Hachimura produced 23 points on 4-for-5 marksmanship from the land of plenty.
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