Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers odds, picks and predictions

Corey Scott | Staff Writer

The Chicago Bulls (21-24) and Los Angeles Lakers (22-23) meet at Crypto.com Arena Thursday. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. Let's analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Bulls vs. Lakers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: Bulls lead 1-0

The Bulls are coming off a cover as 5-point underdogs in a 115-113 loss at the Phoenix Suns Monday as the Under (228.5) hit. However, it was a bad beat for Bulls moneyline (ML) bettors, as they blew a 23-point 2nd-half lead.

Lakers +9.5 bettors can relate, as their team failed to cover in a 127-116 loss against the LA Clippers Tuesday as the Over (235.5) cashed. The Lakers were covering in the final minute until Clippers G Norman Powell made it an 11-point game with 20 seconds remaining.

In a Dec. 20 meeting, the Bulls covered as 3.5-point home underdogs against the Lakers with a 124-108 victory as the Over (225) hit.

Bulls at Lakers odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:41 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Bulls +172 (bet $100 to win $172) | Lakers -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Bulls +5 (-110) | Lakers -5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Bulls at Lakers key injuries

Bulls

F Zach LaVine (ankle) out
F Patrick Williams (ankle) probable

Lakers

C Anthony Davis (Achilles) questionable
F LeBron James (ankle) questionable
G Cam Reddish (ankle) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Bulls at Lakers picks and predictions

Prediction

Lakers 115, Bulls 105

Moneyline

The Lakers (-200) should bounce back after losing 2 of 3, but I believe we're better off laying the points than risking $200 to win $100 on Lakers ML.

PASS. Bet the spread and/or total instead.

Against the spread

Choking away a 23-point lead is demoralizing, and I don't believe Chicago is a good enough team to bounce back from that immediately. The last time the Bulls lost after leading by 20-plus points -- Nov. 26 at the Brooklyn Nets -- they followed up that performance with a 124-97 loss at the Boston Celtics Nov. 28 as 12.5-point underdogs.

The Lakers lost last time out without James, but it wasn't a demoralizing loss by any means. G D'Angelo Russell scored 20-plus for the 5th time in his last 6 outings, and the Lakers covered for 75% of the game.

I don't see Chicago coming into this game with the focus needed to keep it close.

BET LAKERS -5 (-110).

Over/Under

The Under has hit in 3 of the last 4 Bulls games.

The Bulls are 22nd in offensive efficiency this season and are facing a Lakers team that has allowed an average of 107.5 points after its last 2 losses. Chicago is 28th in effective field goal percentage on the road (51.7%) and should not be counted on to put up a lot of points in this spot, especially after its 47-point 2nd half at Phoenix Monday.

BET UNDER 226.5 (-110).

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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