The Los Angeles Lakers are putting their perfect 8-0 road record on the line when they visit the United Center for their final game against the Bulls, this season, and their second game of a seven-game road trip. The Lakers also own the NBA’s best record overall at 12-4.

Meanwhile, the 7-8 Bulls are actually the team arriving in Chicago last. They flew in from Charlotte last night after a 13-point win, their third straight, which has put them half a game outside the playoffs. Tip-off is 9 p.m. ET.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Back on January 8 in L.A., the Bulls kept it close, but fell 117-115 to the Anthony Davis-less Lakers. Zach LaVine had 38 points in a losing effort, his second-highest total for the Bulls in 2021.

Los Angeles has opened as a nine-point favourite but the trend to keep an eye on is the Bulls against the spread. Chicago has covered in eight of their last nine games, and are 11-4 ATS overall. Just for good measure, the total is set at 227.5 and there are two conflicting trends. Seven of eight Lakers’ road games have gone under this season, while the over is 6-1 in Chicago’s last seven games.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are entering Saturday’s bout as the league’s only unbeaten road team. Thursday night featured one of their most impressive showings too, as Los Angeles went into Milwaukee and knocked off Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks 113-106. LeBron James dropped a season-high 34 points in a statement win for the defending champs.

Surprisingly enough, Thursday was just the second time a Laker finished with at least 30 points this season, dating back to Anthony Davis’ 34 points in San Antonio on January 1. Davis also hasn’t scored at least 20 points in any of Los Angeles’ last five games. That sounds concerning until you realize the Lakers are 4-1 in those games with three-double digit wins, a seven-point win against Milwaukee, and a two-point loss to Golden State. Los Angeles is scary good, again.

Chicago Bulls

If you told the Bulls that after 15 games Zach LaVine would be outscoring Giannis Antetokounmpo, they would have been extremely pleased. That’s reality right now, with LaVine scoring 27.4 a game and sitting fifth in the NBA. LaVine’s been a borderline top-tier scorer for over two seasons now, and 2021 seems like the year he’s cemented himself as an NBA star.

Elsewhere on Chicago’s roster, there are other bright spots. Lauri Markkanen’s averaging a career-high in points per game (18.9) and field goal percentage (47.2 per cent) in his fourth season, and Coby White has dramatically improved by nearly averaging 16 points and six assists per game in sophomore season. The future in bright in Chicago.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Bulls?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.02
Assists	LeBron James 7.78
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.19
FG%	Montrezl Harrell 62.2
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.64

CHI

Points	Zach LaVine 27.43
Assists	Zach LaVine 4.86
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 11.54
FG%	Thaddeus Young 55.9
Steals	Thaddeus Young 1.09
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 0.77

LAL

Points	LeBron James 23.33
Assists	LeBron James 8
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 11
FG%	Marc Gasol 61.5
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

CHI

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bulls Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.02
Assists	LeBron James 7.78
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.19
FG%	Montrezl Harrell 62.2
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.64

CHI

Points	Zach LaVine 27.43
Assists	Zach LaVine 4.86
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 11.54
FG%	Thaddeus Young 55.9
Steals	Thaddeus Young 1.09
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 0.77

LAL

Points	LeBron James 23.33
Assists	LeBron James 8
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 11
FG%	Marc Gasol 61.5
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

CHI

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Ques Thurs Knee - 02 / 06 / 21

Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)

Out indefinitely Personal - 31 / 05 / 21

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 28 / 05 / 21

Andre Drummond (C)

Ques Sun Leg - 20 / 05 / 21

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 16 / 05 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 16 / 05 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Sat Back - 14 / 05 / 21

Alfonzo McKinnie (SF)

Prob Sun Foot - 14 / 05 / 21

Marc Gasol (C)

Prob Sun Finger - 14 / 05 / 21

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Chicago

Nikola Vucevic (C)

Out Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Tomas Satoransky (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 14 / 05 / 21

Tomas Satoransky (SG)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Daniel Theis (PF)

Out Sun Hip - 12 / 05 / 21

Daniel Theis (PF)

Ques Tues Hip - 09 / 05 / 21

Cristiano Felicio (PF)

Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 05 / 21

Lauri Markkanen (PF)

Ques Sat Illness - 01 / 05 / 21

Nikola Vucevic (C)

Prob Thurs Leg - 01 / 05 / 21

Nikola Vucevic (C)

Prob Fri Hip - 29 / 04 / 21

Patrick Williams (SF)

Prob Sat Heel - 23 / 04 / 21

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Ques Thurs	Knee - 02 / 06 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is nursing a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 6 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 31 / 05 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Antetokounmpo is away from the team while tending to a personal matter, and there is no timetable for return.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 28 / 05 / 21	2-2	0-3-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is nursing a left knee contusion, but he is likely to suit up for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Andre Drummond (C)	Ques Sun	Leg - 20 / 05 / 21	3-3	0-5-1	+ -
Drummond is dealing with a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 16 / 05 / 21	3-4	1-5-1	+ -
Caruso is battling left foot soreness, but he is likely to be active for Sunday's game versus the Pelicans.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 16 / 05 / 21	3-4	1-5-1	+ -
Kuzma is bothered by lower-back tightness, but he is projected to be available for Sunday's contest against the Pelicans.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Sat	Back - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
Kuzma is hindered by lower-back tightness, but he is likely to be in Saturday's lineup versus the Pacers.
Alfonzo McKinnie (SF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
McKinnie was held out of the last game with a right foot sprain, but it is likely that he will take on the Pelicans on Sunday.
Marc Gasol (C)	Prob Sun	Finger - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
Gasol missed the last game due to a finger injury, but it is anticipated that he will be available to face the Pelicans on Sunday.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-6	3-6-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is expected to suit up against the Rockets despite an ankle injury.

Chicago

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nikola Vucevic (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Vucevic will not be in the lineup on Sunday versus the Bucks, as he will be given a day of rest.
Tomas Satoransky (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 14 / 05 / 21	1-1	0-2	+ -
Satoransky was held out of the last contest due to a left ankle sprain, and he will not face the Bucks on Sunday.
Tomas Satoransky (SG)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Satoransky is bothered by a left ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will line up against the Raptors on Thursday.
Daniel Theis (PF)	Out Sun	Hip - 12 / 05 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Theis has missed the previous two games due to a right hip contusion, and he will not be available for Sunday's matchup with the Bucks.
Daniel Theis (PF)	Ques Tues	Hip - 09 / 05 / 21	3-2	0-5	+ -
Theis sat out the last game tending to a right hip contusion, and it is unclear if he will take the court to battle the Nets on Tuesday.
Cristiano Felicio (PF)	Ques Mon	Illness - 01 / 05 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Felicio sat out the last game nursing an illness, and it is unclear if he will be in the lineup versus the 76ers on Monday.
Lauri Markkanen (PF)	Ques Sat	Illness - 01 / 05 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Markkanen is ailing from an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will take the court against the Hawks on Saturday.
Nikola Vucevic (C)	Prob Thurs	Leg - 01 / 05 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Vucevic has missed the last two games due to an adductor injury, but it is anticipated that he will be available versus the Hornets on Thursday.
Nikola Vucevic (C)	Prob Fri	Hip - 29 / 04 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Vucevic is dealing with right adductor tightness, but he is likely to face the Bucks on Friday.
Patrick Williams (SF)	Prob Sat	Heel - 23 / 04 / 21	6-8	3-11	+ -
Williams is battling left heel soreness, but he is projected to take the court for Saturday's tilt with the Heat.