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The Los Angeles Lakers (27–17) head to the United Center to face the Chicago Bulls (23–22) on Monday night, January 26, 2026. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The Lakers are slight road favorites at -1.5 on the spread and -120 on the moneyline, while the Bulls are listed at +100. The total is set at 236.5 in what’s expected to be a fast-paced, back-and-forth game with playoff implications in both conferences.
Los Angeles just snapped a losing skid with a gritty win in Dallas, while Chicago is on a mini-heater, winning four of their last five. The Lakers are jockeying to stay in the top six of the Western Conference and avoid the play-in, while the Bulls are trying to climb out of the middle of the East and improve their seeding. Both teams are missing rotation players, so injury status and bench performance will factor heavily in how this one plays out for bettors.
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Lakers vs Bulls Odds
These are the current betting lines. Make sure to monitor the latest NBA odds for updates before placing your bets.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -120 | -1.5 (-109) | O 236.5 (-110) |
| Chicago Bulls | +100 | +1.5 (-112) | U 236.5 (-110) |
Lakers Betting Form
The Los Angeles Lakers enter at 27–17 but haven’t looked sharp recently. They finally stopped the bleeding with a 116–110 road win over Dallas, thanks to a dominant closing stretch from Luka Dončić, who poured in 33 points and 11 assists. That win snapped a three-game losing streak and gave LA its first win on this current road swing.
Offensively, the Lakers play through their stars. They lean heavily on Luka and LeBron James to create in isolation and pick-and-roll. That works when they’re locked in — but when either sits or slows, the offense stalls. LA’s pace is middle of the pack, and their half-court efficiency has dipped over the last two weeks. They’re not spacing the floor well, which forces tough shots late in possessions.
Defensively, LA has fallen off. They’re giving up easy transition buckets, getting beat on backdoor cuts, and failing to rotate out to shooters. Their defensive rebounding has also slipped, which has allowed opponents to rack up second-chance points. The team is still dangerous, but the floor feels lower than it should be.
Injuries are a concern. Austin Reaves is out, and Jake LaRavia is questionable. Keep an eye on the Los Angeles Lakers injury report to see if any more bodies drop before tipoff. Reaves’ absence hurts both spacing and playmaking. And if they go deeper into the bench, expect offensive lulls and defensive breakdowns — especially against a Bulls team that pushes pace and attacks mismatches.
Bulls Betting Form
The Chicago Bulls are 23–22 and playing some of their best basketball of the season. They’ve won four of five and are 5–2 ATS in their last seven home games. The most recent win was a 122–116 victory over Atlanta, and it highlighted how this group is gelling — Coby White has taken a leap, and the team is sharing the ball better, shooting it more confidently, and winning the effort plays.
Chicago’s offense is trending up. They’re pushing tempo more than earlier in the season and generating higher-quality shots. DeMar DeRozan is still the midrange anchor, but White, Dosunmu, and Patrick Williams are giving them burst and spacing. Over the last ten games, Chicago ranks top 10 in effective FG% and offensive rating. They’re also getting to the line more often and converting.
Defensively, they’re not elite, but they’re solid. Chicago plays with activity — contesting shots, closing out, and rotating — and they’ve cut down on fouls. They’re also rebounding better than they were in December. The biggest vulnerability is interior depth, and that could be a concern if Davis and James start getting downhill.
Injuries haven’t helped. Zach Collins and Tre Jones are both out, and Noa Essengue is done for the year. Still, the Bulls’ current rotation has held up well. Monitor the Chicago Bulls injury report in case anything changes pregame. For now, they look like a live dog with home-court advantage and momentum.
Lakers vs Bulls Matchup Breakdown
This game comes down to which team can control pace and force the other out of rhythm. The Bulls are better in transition and have been winning with tempo and movement. The Lakers — despite having more talent — haven’t defended well in transition or closed out on shooters. That opens the door for a fast Chicago start.
The Lakers are also on the tail end of a road trip, and that fatigue tends to show on defense. If LeBron or Luka starts slow, or the second unit gets blitzed, the Bulls could build an early cushion. On the flip side, if AD gets going inside and the Lakers slow the pace, LA can grind it out late.
Key matchup factors:
- Bulls run early, Lakers defend transition poorly.
- Lakers need rim pressure; Bulls have been better at protecting the paint.
- Bulls depth > Lakers bench right now, especially with Reaves out.
- Bulls have covered four straight as underdogs.
This total is high at 236.5, but not unreasonable. If the Bulls dictate pace, it could fly over. If the Lakers impose half-court execution and the game slows in the second half, it may stay under.
For breakdowns like this, the NBA betting guide is a solid resource to learn how to evaluate pace, injury impact, and efficiency trends across different matchup types.
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Lakers vs Bulls Predictions and Best Bets
This line opened close to a pick’em and quickly moved toward the Lakers. Even so, the value side is Chicago. They’ve been playing better basketball over the last five games, they’re at home, and they’re getting points. LA’s recent road form doesn’t justify laying chalk here, especially not with Reaves sidelined and the bench struggling.
The Bulls have the energy edge and matchup style to win this outright. You’re getting a plus-money moneyline and a favorable spread. If this game stays close late, the Bulls have been better in execution and late-clock shot quality recently.
The total is sharp. 236.5 feels like the right number — lean Under if you think LA controls tempo or the shooting dips. But if Chicago gets out and runs, an Over is very live.
If you’re looking for secondary markets, Bulls first half or team total Over are worth considering. LA tends to start slow, and if Chicago gets hot early, those derivative bets will cash before the fourth.
Best Bet: Bulls +1.5 (-112)
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