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The Los Angeles Lakers will play the Chicago Bulls Sunday in an inter-conference matchup. It's time continue our NBA odds series with a Lakers-Bulls prediction and pick.
The Lakers and Bulls play on Sunday as positive Covid tests continue to rampage through the NBA. Los Angeles still has some key players in health and safety protocols in addition to the absence of Anthony Davis, who is now out for up to a month after injuring his knee. The Bulls are still missing Zach LaVine but will have Demar DeRozan, Coby White and potentially Derrick Jones Jr. for Sunday's contest. The Bulls come in as solid home favorites vs. the shorthanded Lakers on Sunday night.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Lakers-Bulls odds for this Sunday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: Lakers-Bulls Odds
Los Angeles Lakers +5 (-114)
Chicago Bulls -5 (-106)
Over 215 (-110)
Under 215 (-110)
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Why The Lakers Could Cover The Spread
LeBron James is probable for this game. The Lakers will need everything they normally expect from their star forward in this one and then some. Los Angeles is extremely shorthanded as Avery Bradley, Anthony Davis, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn and Austin Reeves will all miss this game for the Lakers. James and Russell Westbrook will be tasked with carrying much of the load in this one, as Los Angeles continues to wait for guys to exit the health and safety protocols and rejoin the team.
The Lakers are 6-4 in their last ten games and appeared to be potentially hitting their stride. The virus issues and knee injury to Anthony Davis may have stopped their run up the Western Conference standings before it even got started. Los Angeles is 5-4 vs. the spread as a road underdog this season and 11-19 against the spread overall. Los Angeles has a 6-7 road record outright on the season.
Why The Bulls Could Cover The Spread
Chicago has upgraded the status of Demar DeRozan and Coby White to available for this game. The Bulls will still be without Zach LaVine, however. Alize Johnson and Patrick Williams will also be out, while Matt Thomas is doubtful. The Bulls have been one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference this season and will be a tough challenge on their home floor for the shorthanded Lakers. Chicago is 17-10 and has the second best winning percentage in the East so far this season behind only the Brooklyn Nets.
The Bulls are 6-3 vs. the spread this season as home favorites, so they might be a good play to win and cover on Sunday. Chicago is 12-5 overall vs. the spread when listed as the favorite. At 8-4 straight up at home, the Bulls have been very good on their own floor to this point.
Final Lakers-Bulls Prediction and Pick
The Lakers have been a mess all season, but of late it's hard to pin all of the blame on them. Like some other teams around the league, Los Angeles has nearly half of their team and many of their rotation players on the health and safety protocol list. Take the Bulls as the deeper and healthier group in this matchup. Despite not having Zach LaVine, the Bulls should be able to win and cover vs. a very shorthanded Lakers team on Sunday.
Final Lakers-Bulls Prediction & Pick: Bulls -5 (-106)