NBA Picks: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls

Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will try to put an end to the Los Angeles Lakers' current five-game losing streak on the road, as they take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center, with Monday night's opening tip scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers are 1.5-point underdogs in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total is holding steady at 194.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this non-conference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering an against-the-spread pick along the way.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped back-to-back games, including a 108-103 setback to the Toronto Raptors as 4.5-point road favorites Sunday, while going OVER the total for the first time in six contests.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers are 6-11 against the spread away from the Staples Center during the 2012-13 NBA season.

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls may play their second straight game without the services of forward Luol Deng, who is listed as a game-time decision for Monday night's game with a hamstring injury.

Sports bettors will find that the Bulls are a miserable 5-17 against the spread at home this season, while they've dropped six of nine games in straight-up fashion to Western Conference opponents in that situation.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Los Angeles Lakers as one of their NBA picks Monday, as they've gone 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five games on zero days rest, while the underdog has covered the number in 16 of the last 21 meetings in this series.

NBA Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +1.5

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