Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 12 2026
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The Chicago Bulls travel to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET with television coverage on Spectrum Sports Net. The Los Angeles Lakers enter this matchup as 3-point favorites, and at the time of this writing the total and moneyline were not listed. Be sure to also check out our free NBA picks for additional betting insight on today’s NBA games.
Bulls Trying to Stay Competitive on the Road
The Chicago Bulls enter this matchup with a 27-38 overall record and they have struggled away from home with an 11-20 road record this season. Chicago has had mixed results recently, recently won over Golden State 130-124 in overtime, recently lost to Sacramento 126-110, recently won over Phoenix 105-103, recently lost to Oklahoma City 116-108, and recently won over Milwaukee 120-97. That stretch shows the Bulls have been capable of competing but have had difficulty finding consistent results.
Chicago averages 115.4 points per game this season while allowing 119.9 points per contest defensively. The Bulls shoot 47% from the field and average 44.8 rebounds along with 28.7 assists per game. They also contribute defensively with 5.0 blocks and 7.5 steals per contest.
One of the challenges for Chicago has been their defense, as allowing nearly 120 points per game has forced them into higher scoring games in order to remain competitive. Their ability to move the ball and create assists has helped them generate offense, but defensive consistency remains a concern.
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Lakers Looking to Protect Home Court
The Los Angeles Lakers come into this matchup with a 40-25 overall record and they have been solid at home with a 21-12 record inside the crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles has been playing strong basketball recently, recently won over New York 110-97, recently won over Indiana 128-117, recently lost to Denver 120-113, recently won over New Orleans 110-101, and recently won over Sacramento 128-104. That stretch shows the Lakers have been performing well while continuing to push for playoff positioning.
The Lakers average 115.9 points per game while allowing 114.9 points per contest this season. They shoot an efficient 50% from the field and average 40.9 rebounds along with 25.4 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 4.2 blocks and 8.2 steals per contest.
One of the key advantages for Los Angeles has been their shooting efficiency. Connecting on 50% of their field goal attempts allows them to maintain offensive pressure, especially when playing at home where their offense has been particularly effective.
Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Lakers Pick
Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Lakers Pick
- Pick: Los Angeles Lakers -3
The Lakers have been playing solid basketball recently and they hold a clear advantage at home where they have been one of the stronger teams this season. Their efficient offense combined with Chicago’s defensive struggles gives Los Angeles an opportunity to control the pace of this game.
Chicago has been competitive but their road record and defensive numbers suggest they could struggle to keep up with the Lakers’ scoring efficiency. With Los Angeles shooting 50% from the field and coming off several strong performances, the Lakers appear to have the edge.
Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Lakers Total Pick
- Pick: Over
I expect this matchup to feature plenty of scoring. Chicago allows nearly 120 points per game and that defensive weakness could create opportunities for the Lakers to generate offense throughout the night.
At the same time, the Bulls average over 115 points per game themselves, which should help keep the pace high. When I combine both teams’ scoring averages and defensive numbers, I believe the total should trend toward the over.
Final Score Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers 122, Chicago Bulls 116
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Wednesday.
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