Los Angeles Clippers Travel to Chicago to Face the Bulls

The Clippers are seated in the eighth spot in the Western Conference and have a good hold on it. They’re leading the Lakers by five games and can afford a few losses. However, at the time of writing, the Clippers have lost five games in a row already.

If they continue to lose these games, they could find themselves outside of playoff contention. So, can they beat the Chicago Bulls?

Chicago has underperformed over recent weeks but just got a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prior to their win over Cleveland, the Bulls lost two games in a row. Chicago quickly needs to gain momentum as they head into the NBA playoffs, which isn’t far away.

This game against L.A. will give them a chance to get a win at home. However, can they cover the spread?

Game Preview: Los Angeles Clippers at Chicago Bulls, March 31st

The Clippers’ downfall this season has been the injuries they’ve suffered. Still, they’re currently set to make a playoff debut, as long as they keep winning games. The Clippers average 106.65 points per game, ranking 25th in the NBA.

They’re facing the offense of the Chicago Bulls, who are 11th in the NBA. It’ll be a tough task for the Clippers to take down the Bulls on Thursday.

Even though they’ve had a rough patch through the last few weeks, the Bulls press on. Led by DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, Chicago will look to take down the L.A. Clippers.

Los Angeles won’t just let the Bulls walk over them, though. L.A. has the 11th ranked defense in points allowed per game. For the Bulls to get a win, they’ll have to fight through the Clippers’ tough defense.

Los Angeles Clippers at Chicago Bulls Betting Prediction

These two teams haven’t played each other since mid-November of 2021. In that game, the Clippers came in as 3.5-point favorites and was before all of the injuries.

They still lost the game to the Bulls, 100-90, so keep that in mind. This time, the Bulls will come in as at least 4.5-point favorites. Even if they’re favored by more, Chicago is the more likely team to cover the spread.

At home, the Bulls currently have a record of 24-12 against the spread. They’re also dealing with fewer injuries which will be a big help for them in this game.

The implications of the game also raise the stakes for the Bulls. Because of this and how they performed against the Clippers before, we’ll take the Chicago Bulls. Now, let’s see if we can find the best bet for the total. 

Each of these teams has gone under the total this season more often than over. The Bulls have a 35-37-2 record against the total, and the Clippers are 35-39-1. Since one team is heavily-injured and the other struggles to put up points, the best bet is the under.

* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.