Slam Dunk? Bulls vs Lakers Game Analysis
On paper, it looks like the Lakers are a sure thing to beat the Bulls on Thursday, March 12, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. But hear me out. There are some things to consider, such as past upsets, injuries, and potential young stars in the making. Let’s see which team has a better chance of winning in this Bulls vs Lakers prediction at PayPerHead.
The Lakers are hot right now, making a run for a good playoff spot in a tight race in the Western Conference. They play better at home while the Bulls struggle on the road, winning only 11 of 31 away games.
The Lakers had a day off, and this is their fourth and last home game before going on the road. Meanwhile, the Bulls have been on the road since their last home game on Tuesday, March 3, and they also had a day off before this game. So far, so good for the Lakers.
Chicago Bulls Recent Scores
The Bulls are languishing in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, having won just 3 of their last 10 games. But they defeated the Golden State Warriors 130-124 in their last game on Tuesday, March 10. They needed overtime to do it, and Matas Buzelis finished with 41 points, including 5 three-pointers, in 45 minutes of court time. The 21-year-old Buzelis has averaged 15.8 points and 28.7 minutes played per game for the season. Was this a glitch, or are we seeing a new star developing?
Prior to that, they’ve had two close games, winning one against the Suns (105-103) and losing one against the Knicks (105-99). The rest were wider spreads, including their win against the Bucks (120-97). The rest were losses.
Los Angeles Lakers Recent Scores
The Lakers have been steadily climbing the Western Conference ranks, sitting in 4th place with 40 points, along with the Rockets and Timberwolves. They have the momentum to break out of that 3-way race, as they are currently riding a 3-game winning streak (and have won 6 of their last 7 games). Those three wins were against the Timberwolves (120-106), Knicks (110-97) and a high-scoring affair against the Pacers (128-117).
Their last game was against the Timberwolves, where Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves both contributed 31 points.
Setting the tone on defense 🔒 pic.twitter.com/8aBlsJH482
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 11, 2026
Bulls vs Lakers History
These two teams have met once this season, on January 26, when the Lakers pulled away late in a high-scoring game to win 129-118. Luka Dončić led the way for the Lakers with 46 points, 11 assists, 8 three-pointers and 7 rebounds.
That loss dropped the Bulls to 23-23. They are now at 27-38, which means they’ve only won 4 games and lost 15 since then. This will be their last meeting this season.
Bulls vs Lakers Prediction
The Bulls are struggling with injuries, which is keeping them out of the win column. Listed as day-to-day are: Zach Collins, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Jaden Ivey and Noa Essengue.
The Lakers have only three players listed as day-to-day, including LeBron James, who has a hip/foot injury. Also listed are Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes. They’ve been without James for the past 7 games, and they’ve done fine, with Austin Reaves stepping in to fill the void.
The Lakers are heavily favored to win against the Bulls by -10.5 points and a Total of 232. The only unknown in this equation is Matas Buzelis. Can he light a fire under the Bulls? I’d like to see that, but I’m not holding my breath. We predict the Lakers will win 123-110 and cover the spread. I’m looking forward to this one!
