by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Dec 19, 2021
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: NBCSCH, SPECSN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Bulls -4.5
BetMGM: Bulls -4.5
Caesars: Bulls -4.5
Season record
Lakers: 16-14 (6th place, Western Conference)
Bulls: 17-10 (2nd place, Eastern Conference)
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Lakers - Bulls preview and analysis
Recent form
Lakers: lost 110-92 at Timberwolves on Friday
Bulls: lost 118-92 at Heat on Dec. 11
What would normally be an exciting matchup has the heat turned down a tad. The banged-up Los Angeles Lakers will visit the Chicago Bulls on Sunday in what will be an interesting game.
The Lakers had their three-game winning streak end Friday in an 18-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the game wasn't the only thing they lost. Anthony Davis is out for the next month due to a sprained knee. A season that has already been defined by the prolonged absence and recent return of LeBron James continues to see more injuries pile up.
Los Angeles' superstar tandem is hurt and has opened at some books as 4.5-point underdogs against the Bulls. James had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the shorthanded Lakers.
"Give credit where credit is due. Minnesota had a hell of a game," James said.
The COVID surge is hitting the NBA at a mark that is unreal to think of, and the Lakers are one of the many teams getting hit hard. Malik Monk, Austin Reaves and Dwight Howard -- just to name a few -- are in health and safety protocols and will not be available for this game.
The Bulls are another one of those teams having to deal with this; really, they were the first team to handle everything. Zach LaVine is out, Derrick Jones Jr. is out, and the Bulls are still playing like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
But Chicago has dropped two straight on the road to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, both games saw the Bulls just 92 points each. LaVine had 31 points, but was placed back in COVID protocol following the game and he likely won't be back until Christmas.
"Everybody is probably a little bit out of sorts right now just because we keep losing players," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. "We need more from different guys."
Nikola Vucevic shot just 3 of 15 for 10 points, and he'll need to play better going forward. The good news is DeMar DeRozan is out of protocols and will return for this game.
Prediction
I wonder how much DeRozan will play in this game, and I can't envision him being that All-Star/MVP-caliber player one game out of protocol. But with the way the Bulls have played at home, and how the Lakers just don't look alive right now, I feel like this is by default. Bulls by 12
Betting trends
The Lakers are 18-22 ATS in their last 40 as an underdog.
The Lakers are 7-11 ATS in their last 18 following an upset loss by 10 points or more as a favorite.
The Bulls are 15-3 ATS in their last 18 Sunday games.
Projected starting lineup
Lakers:
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Wayne Ellington
SF: LeBron James
PF: Carmelo Anthony
C: DeAndre Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Carmelo Anthony
C: DeAndre Jordan
Bulls:
PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Alex Caruso
SF: Javonte Green
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Nikola Vucevic
SF: Javonte Green
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Nikola Vucevic
Key injuries
Lakers: Anthony Davis (knee, out), Malik Monk (COVID, out), Austin Reaves (COVID, out), Kendrick Nunn (COVID, out), Dwight Howard (COVID, out), Avery Bradley (COVID, out), Talen Horton-Tucker (COVID, out)
Bulls: Zach LaVine (COVID, out), Derrick Jones Jr. (COVID, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
