Basketball betting heavily favors the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday as they host the Chicago Bulls. This NBA betting contest can be seen on TNT television.
Basketball betting has seen the Bulls struggle on the road and if that continues Chicago could be in trouble because this is the 2nd game of a six-game road trip. It is the third game of a five-game homestand for the Lakers. Los Angeles has beaten the Bulls in 7 of the last 10 meetings. Los Angeles is also 6-4 against the NBA betting odds in those games. The teams met twice last season and the Lakers won both games straight up but the teams split against the basketball betting odds. The Lakers won 117-109 at Chicago and 116-109 at Staples. Both of those games went over the basketball wagering total. That broke a huge streak going back to 2004 where every meeting between the two teams went under in basketball betting.
The Lakers swept last season’s series with the Bulls for the second consecutive season. They have won six of the last seven meetings dating back to 2005. This will be the 136th meeting between the two teams with the Lakers leading the all-time series 81-54. At Staples, the Lakers are 8-2 all-time against the Bulls and have won 6 of the last 7. The Lakers are 13-5 all-time with Phil Jackson as head coach including 7-2 in Los Angeles. In 22 career games (18 starts) against Chicago, Kobe Bryant is averaging 24.3 points per basketball gaming game.
Chicago has been hanging around the .500 mark this basketball betting season and the main reason is defense. They rank in the Top 10 in the league in fewest points allowed. That has meant that most of their games have gone under in NBA betting. The Bulls are near the bottom of the league in points scored as basketball wagering stats show, so they may not be able to keep up with the Lakers on Thursday.
Los Angeles is right around the Top 10 in points scored but their defense has been only average and that is why they have a losing record against the basketball wagering odds. The Lakers are a basketball wagering pointspread loser this season but at least at home they have a chance to cover. On the road they are winless against the NBA betting odds. The team has been missing Pau Gasol and when he returns their basketball wagering results should improve.