Lakers Winning in Chicago Easier Than One Would Think

The Los Angeles Lakers may be a bad team right now, but the Chicago Bulls are not playing especially well at home this season.

The struggling Los Angeles Lakers are in Chicago to take on the Bulls on MLK Day. Although the Bulls are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-16 record, the Bulls do not have a winning record at home and are one of only seven NBA teams without a home winning record.

Meanwhile, the Lakers pack their bags with the third-worst road record in the Western Conference. After the loss to Toronto, the Lakers’ 5-13 road record is only better than Sacramento and Phoenix in the Western Conference. Apart from a win against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers have not beaten a winning team on the road this season.

With the Lakers scheduled to play more road games than home games the rest of the way, the Lakers require road wins if they want a chance at the playoffs. To this point, they have not displayed anything that would lead a neutral observer to give them a chance at reversing the tide.

Luckily for the Lakers, the Bulls have lost three of their last four home games including a loss to the Phoenix Suns, the worst team in the Western Conference.

Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose is still not back from an injury suffered late last season. Meanwhile, the Lakers should have all players available with the exception of Jordan Hill (hip) and Steve Blake (abdominal). 

Dwight Howard was ejected during the first half of Sunday’s loss to Toronto, so the Lakers’ center should be fresh and energized from the opening tip on Monday night at the United Center.

Playing on MLK Day is a tradition in the NBA, and the Lakers at Bulls game is one of nine games on the NBA schedule on the holiday. TNT provides television coverage on the 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time tip-off.

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