The Chicago Bulls go to Hollywood to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at the Staples Center.
Both teams will try to get back on the win column after dropping their last assignments. The Bulls lost to the Utah Jazz in their last game while the Lakers are coming off a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Chicago Bulls dropped another game last Saturday as they lost to the Utah Jazz 102-110. The loss was Chicago’s seventh straight and the team has not lost more consecutive games that that since a 10-game losing streak from November 19 to December 6, 2017. Chicago hopes to end the streak on Tuesday as they play the fourth of a five-game road trip at Staples Center versus the Lakers.
Zach LaVine has been a bright spot for the Bulls. The former Slam Dunk king is averaging 23.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this season. Lauri Markkanen, recently back from injury, is putting up 16.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for Chicago. Free agent signee Jabari Parker is contributing 14.7 points and 6.8 rebounds while Kris Dunn leads the team with 6.8 assists per game.
The Bulls are the lowest scoring team in the league at 100.9 points per game. Chicago is 27th in both passing and rebounding at 21.5 dimes and 41.3 boards per game, respectively. They also allow 111.0 points per game, making them the 17th best defensive team in the league.
The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled mightily without their King. Since LeBron James went down with a groin injury during their Christmas Day showdown with the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers are only 3-7 SU. In their last game, the Lakers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers who are the owners of the worst record in the league. The Lakers hope to get back on track against a Chicago team that has also been struggling this season.
Without LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma has led the Lakers in scoring. The second year forward is averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 assists per game. Third year man Brandon Ingram is also taking most of the scoring load and is averaging 16.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Javale McGee has been key for the Lakers as well, averaging 11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
Los Angeles has dropped to 15th in the league in scoring at 111.4 points per game. The Lakers are 14th in assists at 24.3 dimes per contest and 7th in rebounding at 47.0 boards per game. On defense, Los Angeles is ranked 16th among 30 teams as they allow their opponents to score 110.6 points per game this season.
Chicago is 2-8 SU in their last 10 games played and the Bulls are 2-4 SU in their last six games played on the road. The Lakers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played and are only 2-4 SU in their last six home games. Head to head, the Bulls are 6-4 SU in their last 10 meetings against the Lakers.
The Lakers are 3-0 SU and ATS against the Bulls in their last three meetings. Frustration has taken its toll on the Bulls. Robin Lopez and Kri Dunn got heated and exchanged words during a practice session on Monday. The Bulls’ locker room may be about to explode. Meanwhile, the Lakers continue to play poorly without LeBron James. With none of their young stars taking the lead, the Lakers have played lackluster basketball lately.
The Lakers may be in a bad stretch right now but so are the Bulls who have won just once in their last nine games and are just 5-17 on the road. Both teams are struggling in their own right but maybe Chicago has bigger problems with a fragile locker room right now. The Lakers are also playing at home but they have been so unreliable and unpredictable without LeBron James. This game can go either way but all things considered, I’m picking the Lakers to win a close game here. We’re picking the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Chicago Bulls on 1/15/19.
The Bulls are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games played and Chicago is 4-2 ATS in their last six road games. The Lakers are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played and are 2-4 ATS in six home games played this season. Head to head, the Lakers are 3-0 ATS in their last three meetings.
The Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last five games against Western Conference teams and 0-4 ATS when playing on two days rest. The Lakers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine Tuesday games. 7-1-5-1 ATS in their last 23 games against teams with losing records and 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall. Both teams are struggling not just for wins but against the spread as well. Personally, I’d like to stay away from this game but if forced to pick, I’ll take the points and the underdogs in this bet. That’s the smart play against an unpredictable and inconsistent LeBron-less Lakers. Prediction: Bulls +6.5
The total has gone over in 7 out of the last 10 games by the Bulls. The over is 4-2 in Chicago’s last six road games. The total has gone under in 7 out of the last 10 games played by the Laker and the under is 4-2 in Los Angeles’ last six home games. Head to head, the over is 5-4-1 in the last 10 meetings between the Bulls and Lakers.
The Bulls may be the lowest scoring team in the league but the over has hit in seven out of their last 10 games. In Chicago’s last five games played, the total has breached 217 points in four instances. The Lakers have averaged just 99.2 points per game in their last five games played but with the Bulls allowing more than 120 points per game in their last six games, I think both teams easily pass 214 here. Prediction: Over 214
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