Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls Picks and Predictions – January 20, 2026
The Los Angeles Clippers visit the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in a cross-conference showdown at the United Center. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The Bulls have momentum and home-court edge, sitting at 24–21, while the Clippers arrive at 26–18 but have shown recent inconsistencies, especially on the road. With both teams jockeying for playoff position in their respective conferences, there’s real betting interest here.
Chicago is a 3-point home favorite, priced at -155 on the moneyline. The Clippers are catching +131 as underdogs. The total is set at 226.5, a moderate number considering the talent on both rosters, but reflective of their halfcourt scoring tendencies and pace of play. Both teams have split recent ATS results, and this is one of those tight lines where sharp bettors will need to dig into matchups and recent trends.
This isn’t a marquee matchup on paper, but with the Clippers’ high-end talent and the Bulls’ solid form at home, there’s value if you can identify who controls pace and shot quality.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls Odds
Here are the latest odds for Tuesday’s non-conference battle. Keep checking the latest NBA odds for updates tied to injury reports or line movement.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | +131 | +3.0 (-109) | O 226.5 |
| Chicago Bulls | -155 | -3.0 (-114) | U 226.5 |
Los Angeles Clippers Betting Form
The Clippers remain one of the more volatile teams in the West. At 26–18, they’ve been solid overall, but uneven when traveling. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy, but the team has struggled with offensive rhythm when facing elite defenses — and Chicago’s defensive metrics have crept into top-10 territory since the new year.
James Harden’s presence has changed the flow. While he helps in late-game creation, he’s also slowed their pace, leading to long possessions and fewer transition chances. That has hurt their totals, as well as their ability to cover on the road, where they’re just 2–5 ATS in their last seven away games.
Still, the Clippers are elite defensively when locked in. They switch everything, protect the paint well, and don’t give up easy second-chance points. But their margin for error is slim when the three-ball isn’t falling. Tyronn Lue has shortened the rotation lately, leaning more on vets and less on development pieces — a smart move, but one that may affect energy in back-to-back spots.
The Los Angeles Clippers stats and results show a team that defends well, but needs efficient shot-making to win tough road games. Check the Los Angeles Clippers injury report for any late scratches, especially with Harden or Westbrook.
Chicago Bulls Betting Form
Chicago continues to quietly outperform market expectations. At 24–21, the Bulls have covered six of their last nine and are playing excellent defense at home. Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu have locked down opposing backcourts, and with Nikola Vucevic holding steady in the paint, they’ve become far more reliable ATS.
Offensively, DeMar DeRozan remains their late-game anchor, while Coby White has stepped up in both scoring and playmaking. They’re not elite offensively — still bottom-10 in assists and three-point rate — but they grind out points through midrange and physical play. That profile fits better in home games, where the whistle tends to be more favorable and the pace is more predictable.
Chicago is 7–3 ATS at home in their last 10 and continues to defend without fouling — critical against a Clippers team that draws contact but doesn’t shoot many free throws efficiently. Their rebounding has also improved — a key edge against a Los Angeles team that can get stagnant in halfcourt sets.
The Chicago Bulls schedule and stats highlight a team on a steady climb — not flashy, but reliable. Keep an eye on the Chicago Bulls injury report, especially for Caruso’s status, as his defense will be key in limiting George or Harden.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is slower-paced by nature. Both teams rank in the bottom half of the league in pace, and both play through isolation-heavy scorers — Leonard and DeRozan — who operate best in the midrange. That shrinks possessions, reduces transition buckets, and typically points to tighter, low-variance outcomes.
Chicago’s perimeter defense gives them the edge. They can throw Caruso at Harden, and use Dosunmu or Jevon Carter on George or Powell, making life difficult for a Clippers offense that doesn’t move the ball quickly. Meanwhile, the Bulls should find scoring mismatches with DeRozan against smaller Clippers guards — especially in mismatch post-ups.
Interior play favors Vucevic slightly. Zubac is solid defensively, but he’s not a true offensive threat, and that allows Chicago to hedge and rotate more aggressively. The Bulls also hold a slight rebounding edge, especially on the offensive glass.
Key matchup factors:
- Bulls are top-5 in home defensive rating since January 1
- Clippers rank 24th in pace and bottom-10 in FT attempts per game
- Chicago is 13–6 ATS at home this season
- Leonard and George have combined for 50+ PPG in 3 of last 5, but road shooting splits dip notably
Fatigue isn’t a major factor here, but the Clippers are on the road in a tough environment and have looked slower in late-game execution in those spots.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls Predictions and Best Bets
The market opened with Chicago as a slight favorite and the line has held firm around -3. That’s fair — the Bulls have been more consistent at home, while the Clippers haven’t inspired much confidence as a road dog. The spread suggests a tight game, but when possessions shrink and defense tightens up, we lean to the team that executes better in the halfcourt — and right now, that’s Chicago.
Total-wise, 226.5 is modest, but still slightly high for how these two teams match up. Neither pushes tempo, and both rely heavily on isolation or midrange looks. That drives the pace down and creates longer possessions. Unless both teams shoot above their average from three, this one leans Under.
Alternate angles to consider include Bulls 1H ML or Under on the Clippers team total. Chicago has been excellent in defensive efficiency early, and L.A. often opens games cold on the road.
Best Bet: Chicago Bulls -3.0 (-114)
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