Chicago Bulls vs LA Lakers Prediction, Odds & Picks for NBA Summer League

Jul 15, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) competes during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY SportsThe LA Lakers battle the Chicago Bulls in Saturday NBA Summer League actionThe latest betting odds favor the Bulls by 3.5 points over Bronny James and the LakersRead below for Lakers vs Bulls predictions, odds and picks for NBA Summer League

The NBA Summer League action continues to heat up in Vegas, and we’ve got an intriguing matchup on tap for Saturday night as the Chicago Bulls take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET at the Thomas & Mack Center, with the game broadcast on NBA TV.

The Bulls come in as 3.5-point favorites, but don’t sleep on these Lakers. Bronny James and crew are riding a two-game win streak and will have the rest advantage over a Bulls squad that’s playing the second half of a back-to-back after an overtime thriller.

We’ve made our NBA Summer League prediction for Saturday night’s showdown in Sin City.

Bulls vs Lakers NBA Summer League Odds

The Bulls enter this game as the betting favorite, with odds of -3.5. This means that for a bet on the Bulls to win, they must win by at least four points. Conversely, the Lakers are 3.5-point underdogs, meaning a bet on them would win if they either win the game outright or lose by three points or less.

The implied probability based on these odds suggests the Bulls have about a 60% chance of winning, while the Lakers have roughly a 40% chance. The odds likely favor the Bulls due to their slightly better overall performance in the Summer League thus far.

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NBA Summer League odds as of July 20, 2024, at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Chicago Bulls Betting Analysis

Chicago has put together a solid 3-2 record in Summer League play, with their offense putting up 89.5 points per game on 41.4% shooting. However, their defense has been suspect, allowing 91.3 points per game on 43.7% from the field.

The Bulls have been led by the scoring offense of D.J. Steward (19.3 points, 3.5 rebounds per game) and Matas Buzelis (18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds per game).

DJ Steward was on FIRE tonight! 🔥

37 points | 8-14 3FG | 7 assists pic.twitter.com/MLWZYsBMlF

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 20, 2024

Adama Sanogo has also been a key contributor as their third-leading scorer. As a team, the Bulls are shooting 32.4% from beyond the arc and 76.9% from the charity stripe.

For Chicago to secure the win, they’ll need efficient scoring performances from Steward and Buzelis, along with a strong defensive effort from the entire squad. Coming off a back-to-back that included an overtime game, fatigue is a potential factor working against the Bulls.

Lakers on the Rise

While the Lakers’ 2-3 record may not jump off the page, they’ve been trending in the right direction. Dalton Knecht has been a revelation, averaging 21.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Colin Castleton has been a double-double machine, posting 13.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest.

But the real story has been the play of Bronny James. The son of NBA royalty has shown steady improvement throughout the Summer League, including a 13-point performance in the Lakers’ last win over the Cavs. If Bronny can continue his upward trajectory, the Lakers could be a tough out.

Bronny James tonight

13 points5 rebounds3 assists2 blocks 5-10 FG

Found his rhythm pic.twitter.com/qNfXICllLR

— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) July 19, 2024

As a team, the Lakers are putting up 81.7 points per game on just 38% shooting. Their perimeter shooting has been ice-cold at 26.1%, and they’re converting on only 69.3% of their free throws. Defensively, they’re allowing 91.7 points per game on 44.3% shooting.

For the Lakers to pull off the upset, they’ll need big games from Knecht and Castleton, continued growth from Bronny, and much better shooting from distance. The rest advantage could also play in their favor.

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Bulls vs Lakers Prediction

The Bulls may be favored, but there’s value on the Lakers at +3.5. Los Angeles has the rest advantage and seems to be finding their groove at the right time.

Despite Chicago’s slightly better overall numbers, their point differential is only -1.8, indicating they’ve been in a lot of close games. Meanwhile, the Lakers are riding the momentum of back-to-back wins.

Given the Lakers’ extra rest, improving play from key contributors, and the generous 3.5-point cushion, the prediction here is for the Lakers to cover the spread. Don’t be shocked if they not only cover, but pull off the outright upset.

In a Summer League filled with surprises, this game has a strong chance of being the next one.

CHI-LA Pick:

Lakers +3.5 (-110)

 

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