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- The Lakers are 5.5-point favorites over the Bulls in NBA Summer League action tonight
- LA can clinch a spot in the tournament semifinals with a victory
- Check out the expert picks, props and how to watch the Lakers vs Bulls on July 16, below
The stakes are higher than usual for tonight’s NBA Summer League clash between the Lakers and Bulls. Los Angeles, who comes in with a perfect 3-0 record, can clinch a spot in the tournament semifinals with a victory. Online sportsbooks like their chances, pegging the Lakers as 3.5-point favorites, in a contest with a total of 179.5.
That 5.5-point spread is actually up 2 points from the opening line, and many attribute the move to Chicago first round pick Caleb Wilson likely not playing. The 4th overall pick has been a star so far this summer, but without him on the court the Bulls will have a tough time punching back against an LA squad brimming with confidence.
Below, you can check out my expert picks, props and how to watch the Lakers vs Bulls July 16th contest.
Expert Picks for Lakers vs Bulls
My favorite pick tonight is LA against the spread. While commercial books have bumped the line to -5.5, you can still trade the Lakers -3.5 at Kalshi at 59-cents, which is the equivalent of -144 odds. Don’t forget, you can claim the Kalshi referral code to score a bonus to bet on NBA Summer League.
This Lakers team has had the benefit of playing together for not only their run in Vegas, but during the California Classic as well. They’ve had seven games to develop chemistry, and no team has performed better in the Desert.
LA has posted three consecutive double-digit victories, and leads all teams with a +15.7 average point differential per game. The roster might not feature any of the top choices in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds, but it’s comprised of a nice mix of rookies and young players with actual NBA experience.
2026 NBA Summer League Point Differential Leaders
That list is led by #24 overall pick Cameron Carr, who’s fresh off a 23 point outing on Tuesday, and is averaging over 20 points per game in the Desert. He’s joined by Adou Thiero, Chris Manon, Anton Watson and Arthur Kaluma, who have all logged NBA minutes. Thiero has been electric in transition, helping him average 16 points per contest, while Kaluma has dominated both inside and out to the tune of 22.4 points per outing.
With Carr providing exceptional guard play and Thiero and Kaluma owning the wing and paint, LA has yet to be involved in a competitive game in Vegas, and this Chicago lineup doesn’t look like it can change that.
Even with Wilson putting up big numbers, the Bulls have limped to a 1-2 start. Without his shot creation, their half court offense sputters, and they haven’t gotten nearly the kind of rim protection they expected from center Tobe Awaka.
Wilson was quoted after Chicago’s last game that he was intent on getting a win in the Desert before returning to Chicago. The Bulls took care of a lifeless Wizards team last time out, giving Wilson the win he desperately craved. Now that he has a W under his belt, oddsmakers expect him to be sat down, paving the way for a comfortable LA victory.
Props for Lakers vs Bulls
- Arthur Kaluma 3+ Threes (+195 at Bet365)
Moving over to the props market, where I’m betting Kaluma to splash 3+ triples. Kaluma has been on fire from beyond the arc all summer, making 10-of-17 threes. His minutes and attempts have steadily increased every game, and he can even suffer a dip in efficiency tonight and still comfortably clear this line.
How to Watch Lakers vs Bulls
Tip-off for the Lakers vs Bulls Summer League game is set for 6 pm ET, 3 pm PT from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV. American viewers can stream the contest on Amazon Prime Video, while Canadian fans can watch on NBA TV Canada.