Bulls vs. Lakers prediction: Lakers to win, Luka Doncic projected for 31 points in Thursday's NBA game [3/12/2026]

The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Chicago Bulls in NBA action at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, starting at 10:30 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulation results and today’s injury updates, Dimers' proven NBA model projects the Lakers as the most likely winner of the Bulls vs. Lakers game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Lakers lineup will feature players like Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, while the Bulls will rely on Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey and Leonard Miller.

Doncic is expected to deliver a standout performance with a projected 31 points and 4 threes.

This article offers a closer look at Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Bulls vs. Lakers prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NBA game between the Bulls and Lakers 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model gives the Lakers an 80% chance of defeating the Bulls. Our predicted final score has the Lakers winning 124-114.

According to our model, the Bulls (+10.5) have a 57% chance of covering the spread, while the 239.5-point over/under has a 54% chance of staying under.

Bulls vs. Lakers odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Bulls vs. Lakers picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

According to our best NBA bets for Thursday, the top play to make on this game is Bulls +10.5 at the spread.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Bulls vs. Lakers player props

NBA player props are a popular way to wager on Thursday's Bulls vs. Lakers game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Crypto.com Arena.

Matas Buzelis is expected to lead the Bulls with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, while Luka Doncic is projected to have 31 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists for the Lakers.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Bulls prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Bulls are:

Lakers prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Lakers:

Bulls vs. Lakers game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's game between the Lakers and Bulls at Crypto.com Arena is scheduled to commence at 10:30 PM ET.

• Who: Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers
• Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026
• Time: 10:30 PM ET/7:30PM PT
• Venue: Crypto.com Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Lakers, with an 80% win probability, will likely beat the Bulls on Thursday, with Luka Doncic projected for a game-high 63 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Bulls vs. Lakers insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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