Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Clippers Pick & Prediction JANUARY 20th 2025
Preview and Prediction
Currently on a four-game winning streak and gradually returning to full health, the Los Angeles Clippers will put their improved performance to the test as they face off against the Chicago Bulls at home in Inglewood, California on Monday.
In his fifth game of the season, Kawhi Leonard scored 19 points and played for 24 minutes, matching his season high, in the Clippers' 116-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Leonard had missed the first three months of the season due to knee soreness.
"I am pleased with the progress," said Leonard, who also surpassed 14,000 career points. "For me, it is all about how I am feeling and so far, I am feeling great. However, there is still work to be done and we will continue to take it one step at a time."
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However, against the Bulls, the Clippers will revert back to their previous lineup as Leonard takes a maintenance day to rest his knee. The team has a busy week ahead with four games in just five days.
With Leonard out earlier in the season, Norman Powell has stepped up as the focal point of the offense, leading the Clippers with an average of 23.6 points per game. He scored 22 points in the game against the Lakers. Ivica Zubac also had a strong performance with 21 points and 19 rebounds, his fourth game this season with at least 20 points and 18 rebounds.
"I am extremely proud of our players for staying committed and executing our game plan, regardless of who is on the court or who is taking the shots," said Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. "We need to continue building on this and keep improving with each passing day."
Another player whose availability for the game is uncertain is veteran James Harden, who played 40 minutes and scored 21 points with 12 assists against the Lakers. Harden had been questionable for the game due to an illness.
Harden also reached a career milestone, surpassing Oscar Robertson for 14th on the all-time scoring list with 26,721 points.
The Bulls, on the other hand, are coming off a 113-102 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, extending their losing streak to five games.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 27 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 17 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Coby White, who had nine points and no assists, left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
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The Bulls struggled with turnovers, giving up 19 points on 16 turnovers. Josh Giddey also had a scoreless game for the first time this season, playing for 29 minutes.
LaVine, who has been rumored to be a potential trade piece before the upcoming deadline, has been averaging 23.7 points and 4.6 assists this season. He had a lower average of 19.5 points and 3.9 assists last season, where he was limited to only 25 games due to a foot injury that required surgery.
"I am not aware of the evaluation process and what happened last year with his surgery and all that," said Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "But he has taken the approach of, 'I have had enough time to reflect.' Whatever he has reflected on, he has been a great presence in the locker room, off the court, and with our players."
The Bulls were also missing guard Lonzo Ball, who was out due to a right quad contusion and left knee injury management. Ball, a Los Angeles native who was drafted second overall by the Lakers in 2017, has not played a game in his hometown since November 2021.
Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Clippers Recap JAN 20TH 2025
Zach LaVine scored 35 points and Josh Giddey added 18 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists as the visiting Chicago Bulls ended a season-high five-game losing streak with a 112-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in Inglewood, Calif.
Talen Horton-Tucker delivered 18 points and Nikola Vucevic had 14 as the Bulls pulled out the victory on the second night of a back-to-back after losing at Portland. Chicago was without Coby White (ankle) and Ayo Dosunmu (calf).
Giddey's near-triple-double came after he was held scoreless Sunday for the first time this season.
Norman Powell scored 27 points and James Harden added 17 for the short-handed Clippers who were without Kawhi Leonard (rest) and Ivica Zubac (eye). Los Angeles also was playing for the second time in two nights after a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Terance Mann and Derrick Jones Jr. each scored 12 points and Mo Bamba had 10 in his first start for the Clippers, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.
After a back-and-forth first half, the Bulls outscored the Clippers 36-16 in the third quarter by using a 22-5 run in the period to take a 76-62 lead.
The Bulls led 84-66 through three quarters as Chicago shot 56.0 percent from the floor in the period while holding Los Angeles to 23.1 percent. Chicago won despite not making their first field goal of the fourth quarter until 5:58 remained in the game.
The Bulls shot 40.4 percent in the game, while the Clippers shot 39.4 percent.
The Bulls led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter before the Clippers rallied to take a seven-point lead in the second quarter before taking a 50-48 advantage into halftime.
The Clippers also were held under 20 points in the first quarter, scoring 18 on 28.6 percent shooting.
The Bulls were held to 35.4 percent shooting in the first half, while the Clippers were at 43.5 percent through two quarters.