Lakers look to rebound from first loss in 12 games

Dec. 14, 2009 / By Danny Sheridan

As Basketball Betting fans know, the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers went on quite a run recently, winning 11 straight before losing to the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

It will be interesting to see how, or if, they bounce back from their first loss in the past dozen games when they visit the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night (8 pm ET, WGN).

It will also be interesting to see if Kobe Bryant's finger will hold up. Bryant, last year's NBA MVP, began this five-game road trip after suffering a broken index finger in a home win against Miami on Friday. The injured digit, along with a stomach virus, were factors in Saturday's loss, in which Bryant was a non-factor.

Bryant started the game despite suffering the ailments, and went 7-of-24 from the floor and just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc for 16 points.

Los Angeles is a 9-point favorite in NBA Betting odds for Tuesday's game.

Bryant and the Lakers are 7-3 SU and ATS in the past 10 meetings with the Bulls. The last time they met was last Nov. 19 this season, when the Lakers won 108-93 as 10-point home favorites. The score went over the total of 195.

The last time the Lakers were in the Windy City was March 21 last season, when they won 117-109 as a 4-point road favorite.

On Saturday, Utah's Deron Williams had 21 points and 11 assists to help the Jazz snap the Lakers' 11-game winning streak with a 102-94 win at home. With the win, Utah avenged a 101-77 loss in LA last Wednesday.

Chicago lost 106-80 against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, as 9.5-point home underdogs. The score was a push against the total of 186.

Los Angeles is 18-4 SU and 10-12 ATS this season while Chicago is 8-14 SU and 5-15-2 ATS.

LA is just 1-4 ATS on the road and Chicago is 2-6-2 ATS at home.