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NBA Picks - Bulls at Lakers: The 8-3 Los Angeles Lakers will welcome the return of previously injured Pau Gasol Thursday night when they take on the 6-4 Chicago Bulls in the TNT double-header Thursday nite-cap (10:30 pm ET) at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

NBA picks oddsmakers at online sportsbook SBGglobal.com list the hometown Lakers as 9 1/2-chalk (ATS) and -600 moneyline favorites versus the Bulls with a 196 (over/under) betting total. Bulls backers are getting +400 odds as the underdog.

Los Angeles hasn't been at full strength as it sets out to defend its NBA title, and at times it's been clear that the absence of Gasol - who averaged 18.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last season - has made a difference.

The Lakers have been held to 83.3 points per game in their three losses and especially struggled in the second half of their recent two-game rut, averaging 30.0 points in the final 24 minutes.

The Bulls got this current road trip off to a solid start against the Kings, who had won four straight. John Salmons had 23 points and Chicago's 14-point halftime lead held up in a 101-87 victory.  

Chicago topped 100 points for the first time, and Salmons' 23 were especially encouraging. The former King, who averaged 18.3 points on 47.3 percent shooting after being traded to the Bulls in February, was averaging 12.6 points on 31.7 percent shooting heading into Tuesday.

NBA Picks: Los Angeles is probably giving a little too much against a pretty good Bulls team. We like Chicago getting the points in this one.

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