The Win Meter favors the Lakers on the road against the Bulls on Saturday, January 2, at about 64%. That is a real edge, but the Bulls are far from out of it.
How the Win Meter reads
The Win Meter reads the Lakers 64%, with a projected score of Los Angeles Lakers 115, Chicago Bulls 111. The rating gap is 196 points in favor of the Lakers, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Bulls on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 36 times in 100 games like this, the Bulls would win.
Recent form
The Lakers are 2-0 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -3.2. The Bulls are 1-1 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -14.
The Lakers' best recent win was 127-105 at home against GSW.
The Lakers were beaten 131-108 at home by OKC not long ago.
The Bulls were beaten 135-92 on the road by TOR not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: Cameron Carr (LAL), expected back Oct 25, 2026, Adou Thiero (LAL), expected back Oct 25, 2026, Jake LaRavia (LAL), expected back Oct 25, 2026, and Nicolas Claxton (CHI), expected back Nov 4, 2026.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the series is even, with the Bulls outscoring the Lakers by an average of 2.5 points per game. The last meeting was CHI 130, LAL 142.