Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, 11/23/10, 10:30 PM EDT, TV: NBA TV
Opening Point Spread: Los Angeles -9
Current Betting Line: Los Angeles -8.5
Opening Total: 203
Current Total: 203
Chicago has won five of six games and will be playing its fourth game of a six-game circus road trip on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. The Bulls are coming off a 88-83 win over the Mavericks last time out, coming back from a 12-point deficit in the third quarter, with point guard Derrick Rose leading the club with 22 points. The team’s advantage in the game came on the boards, out-rebounding Dallas by a large 59-34 margin, including a career-high 18 boards by forward Taj Gibson and center Joakim Noah added 17. “I can’t go through the motions,” Noah said. “I’ve got to keep going after the ball. We fought hard even when we were behind. We’re not a team that gives up.” The team is 7-1 ATS the last three years when playing on three or more days of rest and the NBA lines page shows them as a road underdog.
The Bulls have been led by Rose for the entire trip, as he scored 33 points in the first two games of the road trip followed by a quiet, but effective performance in Dallas. Chicago has had three days off in Los Angeles before battling the Lakers, which is definitely needed considering the team has lost its last four in this building by an average of 15 points. In order to pull off an upset of the two-time defending champions, the squad must improve upon its free-throw shooting, ranking 29th in the league at 69.8 percent coming into tonight.
Los Angeles has won its last four games by an average of 17.3 points and Sunday night’s 117-89 home victory over the Golden State Warriors certainly helped the cause. The Lakers were in control of the entire game and the comfortable margin allowed head coach Phil Jackson to rest his starters in preparation for tonight. “It’s very important,” he commented. “The starters have that reserve energy to go to Tuesday if they need it.” Center Pau Gasol was a perfect 10-for-10 from the floor in posting a team-high 28 points along with nine rebounds. Guard Kobe Bryant finished with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. The team is 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite of 5.0 to 10.5 points.
The Lakers are a perfect 3-0 versus the Eastern Conference this year, including a 108-103 win over the Raptors on November 5. Los Angeles swept last season’s series with the Bulls 2-0 for the third consecutive year. This will be the 138th meeting between the team between the two teams with the Lakers leading the all-time series 83-54. They have gone 8-2 against the Bulls in the last 10 meetings and compiled an impressive 15-5 all-time mark under the direction of Jackson in the series.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Bulls are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games versus a team with a winning home record, while the Lakers are 4-0 ATS versus the Central Division.
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