Chicago Bulls vs. LA Lakers: TV Schedule, Spread Info, Predictions and More

The Chicago Bulls will travel to Hollywood on Christmas Day to take on a banged-up Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The matchup will mark the season tip-off for each team, and should provide NBA fans with a closer look at the 2010-11 league MVP Derrick Rose as well as two bona fide championship contenders from each conference.

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

When: Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, 5:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC 

Listen: Chicago: ESPN 100 (WMVP-AM) Los Angeles: KSPN 710 AM

Betting Line

Chicago -1.5 over Los Angeles, according to covers.com. The Bulls finished with the better record last year and looked a lot stronger down the postseason stretch despite falling in five games to the Miami Heat in the ECF. The Lakers have question marks in the starting rotation and that should produce a favorable matchup for Chicago on the road Sunday.

Key Injuries

Kobe Bryant's injured right wrist will the be the biggest injury concern in this matchup Sunday. Bryant averaged 25.3 PPG last season, which led the Lakers, so he will be called upon to carry the scoring load early and often against Chicago, especially now that sixth man Lamar Odom is in Dallas. 

What's At Stake? 

It's ridiculous to suggest that one team's season is on the line in the opening game of the year, but Christmas Day's epic showdown between two of the league's most storied franchises could go a long way in determining what becomes of the Lakers. 

They are a much different team than the one fans have grown used to seeing, and it starts with first-year head coach Mike Brown patrolling the bench. 

Meanwhile Chicago won 62 games last season, more than any other team in the league, which means the target will be on the Bulls' back all season long. A win over the Lakers would instantly put pressure on Eastern Conference foes Miami and New York. 

What They're Saying

The overwhelming reports out there suggest that Kobe Bryant will play with his injured wrist on Sunday, and that bodes well for NBA fans looking to settle down on Christmas Day and get a glimpse of a potential 2012 NBA Finals preview. 

Chicago Bulls' power forward Carlos Boozer is ready to play. Boozer averaged 17.5 PPG and 9.6 RPG in 59 games for the Bulls last season, his first with Chicago. Boozer was a huge reason for why the Bulls were so successful, and they'll need more of the same this year.

Bulls Player To Watch

Richard Hamilton: The 33-year-old joined Chicago this offseason and is expected to give the Bulls an added scoring punch in the backcourt alongside reigning league MVP Derrick Rose. Hamilton averaged 14.1 PPG last season with the Detroit Pistons.

Lakers Player To Watch

Kobe Bryant: Without a doubt the five-time champion has to be the player to watch on the LA side. Not only is the Black Mamba going through a difficult divorce for which he has no prenup to fall back on, but he will be playing with a tore up wrist against one of the Eastern Conference favorites. 

Key Matchup

Kobe Bryant vs. Chicago Defense: This will no doubt be the best matchup of the afternoon. Bryant will have added pressure to score now that the Bulls have added a guy like Hamilton to their rotation, and the Bulls are all about shutting down opposing offenses. 

It will be interesting to see who the Bulls put on Bryant at different points in the game. Ronnie Brewer and Luol Deng are both excellent defenders that can disrupt Bryant and throw him off his game. Both players will got a shot at defending him on Sunday. Their level of success on him and him alone should determine the outcome.

Prediction

The Lakers are always tough to beat at home, but without the added dimension of Lamar Odom coming off the bench and on the glass, Derrick Rose leads all scorers and the Bulls to their first win of the 2011-12 season over an ailing Black Mamba. 

Bulls 92, Lakers 83