Bulls vs Lakers Picks and Odds
- The Bulls visit the Staples Center on Friday for a matchup with the Lakers
- This will be the third of a four-game road trip for Chicago, while LA is playing the second of a back-to-back after losing to the Spurs on Thursday
- Get the odds, preview, and best bet for this contest below
Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls will take a trip out to Southern California to face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, January 8th, tip-off 10 PM EST. Thursday was an off-day for the Bulls, while LA was busy in action against San Antonio – in which they suffered their third loss of the season.
These two teams met just once last season, with the Lakers coming out on top. In fact, they have won six in a row against Chi-Town, dating back to 2016.
The Lakers are sizeable 10-point favorites heading into Friday night’s meeting.
Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls | +10 (-110) | +385 | O 229.5 (-110) |
| LA Lakers | -10 (-110) | -500 | U 229.5 (-110) |
Odds from FanDuel on Jan. 8th
Bulls on West Coast Swing
Chicago’s first couple of games on the road out West saw them beat the Blazers, then lose to the Kings on Wednesday. However, it was the performance against Portland that really showed the potential Billy Donovan’s team has.
Down 20 points in the second quarter, the Bulls struggled to hit shots in the first half. Led by LaVine’s 18 points and nine assists, Chicago was able to consistently claw back and grab a three-point win. The Bulls star hit a three-point dagger to seal it for his team with just seconds left, while Coby White also dropped 21 in this contest. Portland was hot from downtown all night long, but Chicago was even more efficient from long range, with Otto Porter and Garrett Temple draining four threes apiece.
Against a team led by Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Carmelo Anthony, this comeback victory by the Bulls speaks to the character of Donovan’s squad. The Blazers are no joke – Dame and CJ combined for 50 points against Chicago.
Although Wednesday’s contest resulted in a defeat to the Kings, their backcourt was brilliant, with LaVine posting 32, while White had a team-high 36. The road trip will round out with two daunting tasks ahead in the Lakers and Clippers. But, it will be a good test for this team to really see where they’re at early in the season.
Lakers Looking to Bounce Back After Home Loss
The Lakeshow is 6-3 after a nine-point defeat to the Spurs on Thursday, as they now prepare to take on the Bulls just 24 hours later. LA trailed by as much as 15 against San Antonio, failing to take the lead at any point through all four quarters.
On the glass, Frank Vogel’s team dominated the Spurs, but it was from the three-point line where their opponents excelled. Gregg Popovich’s squad shot just under 50 percent from downtown, which ultimately made the difference as they ended the Lakers four-game winning streak. The home team also struggled from the charity stripe, shooting just 62 percent.
Despite the loss, the King and AD both had productive showings. James collected 27 points while dishing out 12 assists, while Davis had 23 and 10 boards. Although they haven’t necessarily showed it quite yet, this Lakers team is legitimately better than last season. Montrezl Harrell was a tremendous signing who is a monster in the paint, while veteran Marc Gasol brings experience and production on both ends.
As for their backcourt, it also got a lot better with Dennis Schroder. The former OKC star has already flashed his enormous potential, impacting the game in every way possible. He’s an efficient scorer who can facilitate effectively and grab rebounds, despite his small stature.
Although it was an evening to forget on Thursday from long range, LA has been lethal. They’re 5th in the NBA with a 39.2 three-point percentage, with LeBron and AD both shooting just under 40 percent from downtown.
Best Bet
It’s hard to imagine LA losing twice in a row at the Staples Center. They’ve also dominated the Bulls for several years now and I do believe this trend will continue on Friday. Although it’s the second game of a back-to-back, it won’t affect the champs.
It’s safe to bet on the Lakers here as they will roll to a convincing victory while meeting the spread and improving to 7-3 on the year.
Pick: Los Angeles Lakers -10 (-110)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
