March 12, 2026 | United Center | 7:00 PM CT | NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago Bulls (25โ38) host the Los Angeles Lakers (40โ23) tonight, and this is going to be brutal. They have LeBron James and Anthony Davisโtwo future Hall of Famers. We have DeMar DeRozan and a bunch of guys trying to figure out how to play together.
The Lakers are 4th in the West, winners of 7 of their last 9, and playing championship-caliber basketball. Weโre 12th in the East, thirteen games under .500, and giving up 120.5 points per game.
LeBron is still LeBronโelite playmaking, elite basketball IQ, defying Father Time. Anthony Davis is dominating the paint on both ends. Austin Reaves is making winning plays. Theyโre balanced, deep, and executing at a high level.
Weโre trying to keep up with DeMarโs mid-range game and hoping Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton get hot from three. Against the Lakersโ star power and experience, thatโs probably not enough.
For Bulls fans, this is one of those games where you just hope we donโt get embarrassed on national TV against one of the leagueโs most iconic franchises.
Where the Bulls Stand (Still Not Good)
Record: 25โ38 (12th in East)
Weโre thirteen games under .500, and the play-in race is over. The defense is terrible (120.5 points allowed per game). The rebounding is a disaster (42.0 per game vs LAโs 46.1). And against a team with Anthony Davis, both problems are about to get magnified.
Key Players:
- DeMar DeRozan: Still getting his mid-range buckets, needs another huge game
- Anfernee Simons: Inconsistentโdesperately needs to show up against the Lakers
- Collin Sexton: Provides energy, but not enough against this level of talent
Billy Donovan keeps preaching defense and execution. Against LeBron and AD, weโll need perfection just to stay competitive.
The Los Angeles Lakers: Hollywood Star Power
Record: 40โ23 (4th in West)
The Lakers are legit playoff contenders. LeBron James is in his 22nd season and still playing at an All-NBA level. Anthony Davis is healthy and dominatingโelite scorer, elite defender, elite rebounder. Austin Reaves has become a legitimate third option.
Key Players:
- LeBron James (F): Future Hall of Famer, still playing elite basketball in his 22nd season
- Anthony Davis (C): When healthy, one of the most dominant two-way players in the league
- Austin Reaves (G): Emerging star who makes winning plays
The Numbers:
- 117.2 points per game (elite offense)
- 112.8 points allowed per game (solid defense)
- 46.1 rebounds per game (dominate the glass)
- 27.5 assists per game (good ball movement)
Theyโre balanced, deep, well-coached, and executing. This is what championship-caliber basketball looks like.
Breaking Down the Matchup
| Category | Bulls | Lakers |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 114.7 | 117.2 |
| Points Allowed | 120.5 | 112.8 |
| Assists Per Game | 29.0 | 27.5 |
| 3-Pointers Made | 14.5 | 13.7 |
| Rebounding | 42.0 | 46.1 |
They score more. They defend way better. They rebound better. We pass slightly better and shoot slightly more threes. Thatโs it.
The defensive gap is brutalโ112.8 points allowed vs our 120.5. Against a Lakers team that scores 117 per game, our defense is going to get absolutely torched.
What the Bulls Need to Do (Good Luck)
DeMar DeRozan Has to Be Perfect
DeMar needs 35+ points on ridiculous efficiency just to keep us competitive. LeBron and the Lakersโ defense will make him work for every bucket.
Hit Threes at an Elite Clip
We shoot 14.5 threes per game vs their 13.7. If Simons, Sexton, and our shooters can knock down 18+ threes at 45%+, we have a puncherโs chance. If we go cold, weโre getting blown out.
Someone Has to Slow Down LeBron and AD
This is basically impossible. LeBronโs too smart. ADโs too big and skilled. But if they both go off and make it look easy, weโre cooked.
Win the Rebounding Battle (Not Happening)
Anthony Davis is going to dominate the glass. We canโt let them get easy offensive rebounds and second-chance points.
Donโt Get Embarrassed at Home
The Lakers are going to win. We know that. But if they beat us by 25+ at the United Center, thatโs unacceptable. Compete for four quarters.
What Los Angeles Will Bring
LeBron James will orchestrate everything with elite playmaking and basketball IQ. Anthony Davis will dominate the paint on both endsโrebounding, scoring, protecting the rim. Austin Reaves will make timely shots and winning plays.
The Lakersโ championship pedigree and star power will overwhelm us. Theyโre playoff-caliber for a reason. If weโre sloppy or donโt execute, this could get ugly fast.
Bulls Fan Prediction: We Get Handled
Final Score: Lakers 120, Bulls 108
DeMar DeRozan battles and drops 33 points, showing he can still compete with elite teams. Anfernee Simons gets hot in the second quarter and scores 25. We hang around for a half behind three-point shooting.
But LeBron James takes over with 28 points and 10 assists, making everything look effortless. Anthony Davis posts 32 points and 14 rebounds, dominating the paint. The Lakersโ experience and execution pull away in the second half.
Twelve-point loss feels about right. We compete for a half, then their star power and depth overwhelm us.
Why This Game Matters (Even Though Weโre Probably Losing)
Weโre 12th in the East. The play-in is gone. The seasonโs essentially over.
So why does tonight matter?
Because the Lakers represent what championship franchises look like. Star power. Execution. Winning culture. Everything weโre not right now.
DeMar DeRozan deserves to compete against legends like LeBron. Our fans deserve to see us fight against one of the leagueโs most iconic teams. And maybeโjust maybeโwe can catch them on an off night.
Realistically? Weโre getting beaten by a much better team with two future Hall of Famers. But itโs basketball. Anything can happen.
See Red. Letยดs go Bulls!
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