Los Angeles Lakers vs Chicago Bulls
PublishedDecember 20, 2023,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:December 20, 2023 , ,

NBA Los Angeles vs Chicago Bulls Prediction 12/20/2023

The Los Angeles Lakers (15-12) travel to face off against the Chicago Bulls (11-17) on Wednesday, December 20th. This game will be played at United Center. The Bulls are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Lakers are looking to get back on track from a loss to the 76ers. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.

Lakers vs Bulls

The Lakers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Most recently, the Lakers lost to the Knicks with a final score of 114-109. Besides losing the game outright, the Lakers also fell short against the spread, failing to cover as -4.5 point favorites. As for the over/under, the combined score of 223 points didn’t reach the over/under line of 234.5.

In their last ten games, the Lakers are 5-5 and come into today’s game against the Bulls at 15-12. This season, the Lakers are 10-3 at home and 5-9 on the road.

Los Angeles comes in with an overall ATS record of 11-16 so far this season. As the favorite this season, Los Angeles is 8-10 vs. the spread while going 3-6 as the underdog.

The Bulls Are Coming Off A Win

In their latest game against the 76ers, Coby White was the top scorer for the Bulls’ offense, scoring 24 points and shooting 9/17 from the field. As the Bulls secured the victory with a final score of 108-104, Nikola Vucevic also chipped in with 23 points.

So far this season, the Bulls are 11-17 overall and are looking to beat the Lakers. In road games, the Bulls are 4-10 while going 7-7 at home.

Chicago has an overall ATS record of 14-14 for the season so far. Currently, the Bulls have a two game ATS win streak when they are favored, and they are 10-8 against the spread as underdogs.

Lakers Offense Breakdown

Through 27 games the Lakers are averaging 113.8 points per contest, placing them 17th in the NBA. In terms of pace, the Lakers are one of the top units in the NBA, averaging 100.6 possessions per game. The team’s offense could be a candidate to see their overall offensive numbers improve, as not only do they generate an above-average number of possessions, but they are near the top of the league in made 2-point field goals per game.

Bulls Offense Breakdown

This season, the Chicago offense is ranked 27th in the NBA in scoring at 109.9 points per game. Coming into today’s game, the Bulls will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 12.3 made 3’s per game. Not only is the Chicago offense struggling with their outside shot, but they are also getting to the charity stripe at a below average rate. So far, they are the 22nd ranked team in made free-throws per contest.

Lakers Team Defense

So far, the Lakers’ defense is ranked 14 in the league at 113.5 points per contest.

In the terms of takeaways, Lakers are causing 13.7 turnovers per game, ranking 19th in the league. They also enter the matchup ranked 12th in rejections, averaging 5.5 blocked shots each game.

Bulls Team Defense

Coming into today’s game, the Bulls’ defense is giving up an average of 113.3 points per contest.

The Chicago defense has allowed opponents to shoot 37.6% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 47.4% of their field goal attempts vs. Chicago.

Key Players For The Lakers And Bulls

Our game forecasts for today suggest that Anthony Davis is set to be the main scorer for the Lakers, recording 19 points and shooting 7/12 from the field. During this season, he is delivering an average of 24.2 points per game, along with 12.6 rebounds.

On the flip side, our predictions place DeMar DeRozan as the leading scorer for the Bulls. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 20 while also collecting 4 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 44.1%, and he is contributing 22.2 points per game on average.

Lakers vs Bulls Trends

  • Across the Lakers last five road games, the team averaged 121 points per game while allowing 123. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-4, while going 2-3 straight-up.
  • In their last ten games at home, the Bulls have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 6-4 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 112 points per game in these contests.
  • In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Bulls have a straight up record of 2-3 and an ATS mark of 4-1.
  • Spanning across their last five games as the betting favorite, the Lakers have gone 1-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.

 

Lakers vs Bulls Prediction

 

For a pick on the point-spread in this Lakers vs. Bulls matchup, our bet is to grab the Bulls at +4. Even though our projections have the Lakers winning 111-110, we see the Bulls as the play on the point-spread.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 225, and our model predicts the Lakers and Bulls to score a combined 221 points. We recommend betting on the under.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are 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.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.