Zak Hanshew
• Betting Analyst
8+ years betting experience
Updated:
Mar 12, 2026 , 09:37 AM ET
• 4 min read
Hanshew’s prediction: Matas Buzelis keeps the Bulls alive in L.A. against the Lakers.
EXPERT PICK – PROP
Matas Buzelis o18.5 Points Scored (-112)
Read Analysis
Photo By – Reuters Connect. Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors.
With a rough patch in the rearview mirror, the Los Angeles Lakers have found their groove as of late, and they’ll look to extend their current three-game win streak when they host the surging Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena tonight.
Fresh off the best scoring performance of his career, I expect Matas Buzelis to stay hot on offense, and my Bulls vs. Lakers predictions call for him to hit the Over on his points prop as he and Josh Giddey keep Chicago within striking distance on the road.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference showdown on Thursday, March 12.
Bulls vs Lakers prediction
Bulls vs Lakers best bet: Matas Buzelis Over 18.5 points (-112)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis posted a career-best 41 points on Tuesday, but I’m not chasing points after one big game. The second-year man has averaged 24 points across his last six outings, scoring 20+ in all five games in which he logged at least 30 minutes.
In 35 games with 30+ minutes, he’s averaged 19 points, compared to just a 12-point average in games with fewer than 30 minutes.
Buzelis averaged just 14.8 points across the first 50 games, but he’s averaged 19.4 in his last 14. The Los Angeles Lakers rank in the bottom third in defensive efficiency, giving Buzelis even more runway to clear this total.
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Bulls vs Lakers same-game parlay
The Bulls are 12-8 ATS as the road dog and have covered the spread in four of their last five. The Lakers should win, but the spread is a tad high to bet against a visiting team that’s nearing full strength.
The Bulls and Lakers each sport Top-10 defensive ratings across their last eight games, and each team has hit the Under in eight of their last 10. The point total is set high enough to bet the Under as improved defenses collide.
Bulls vs Lakers SGP
- Matas Buzelis Over 18.5 points
- Bulls +11
- Under 234.5
Our “from downtown” SGP: Feelin’ Giddey
Josh Giddey has averaged 18.5 rebounds+assists on the road this season, and he’s averaged a whopping 21.8 across his last five games. Giddey has hit the Over on this line in 25 of 43 games overall, including 12 of 19 games on the road. Big games from him and Buzelis should keep the Bulls competitive tonight.
Bulls vs Lakers SGP
- Matas Buzelis Over 18.5 points
- Bulls +11
- Under 234.5
- Josh Giddey Over 15.5 rebounds + assists
Bulls vs Lakers odds
- Spread: Bulls +11 (-110) | Lakers -11 (-110)
- Moneyline: Bulls +450 | Lakers -600
- Over/Under: Over 236 (-110) | Under 236 (-110)
Bulls vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Chicago Bulls have hit the Game Total Under in 30 of their last 50 games (+8.00 Units / 15% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Lakers.
How to watch Bulls vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN+, Spectrum SportsNet
Bulls vs Lakers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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Zak Hanshew has been covering fantasy sports and sports betting since 2018. In addition to Covers, he has also written for Rotoworld and has spent time at FantasyPros, RotoWire, OwnersBox and Sportsbook Review. In his spare time, he can be found spending time with his wife and four kids, playing his guitar, watching Simpsons re-runs, or getting some shots up on the court.
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