Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls Prediction, Odds, and Best NBA Prop Bets for February 26, 2025

Image credits: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Clippers are in danger of falling out of the No. 6 seed and into the play-in tournament field on Wednesday night when they hit the road to play the Chicago Bulls. Los Angeles has dropped three games in a row – and has not had Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard in back-to-back games – falling into a tie with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 6 seed. Kawhi is off the injury report on Wednesday, a welcome sign for L.A. However, Powell has been ruled out.

With the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings all also within striking distance of the No. 6 spot, Los Angeles needs to turn things around quickly. On Wednesday, the Clippers are road favorites against the Bulls, who are still in the play-in race in the East – even if they’d prefer to keep losing for a better draft pick. Chicago blew out the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, opening up a bigger lead in the standings with the Brooklyn Nets also losing. The Bulls' latest injury report remains packed, with Jalen Smith ruled out of his third-straight game after suffering a hit to the head in the Bulls' loss to the New York Knicks on Feb. 20.

The Clippers will be looking to bounce back from their recent losses, and with Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup, they have a good chance of doing so. Kawhi had back-to-back 25-point games before he sat out both ends of a back-to-back against Indiana and Detroit with a sore foot. The Clippers star has taken 15.8 shots per game in six games this month. Even though he’s only averaging 17.3 points per game over that stretch, this is a great matchup against Chicago. The Bulls are 26th in defensive rating and a top-three team in pace this season, so don’t be shocked if this turns into a high-scoring affair.

James Harden will also be a key player to watch in this game, as he looks to revive the LA Clippers’ side with his offensive game play. Even though the veteran star has limited attempts, he is still shooting close to his career best 39% from the range while draining just above 40% of the shots. Efficient and effective ball handler, James Harden is more of a facilitator in the Clippers’ current arrangement. The predictions for the game include James Harden total points under 26.5 and total assists over 8.5.

The game will be played at the United Center, and the odds are available on various sportsbooks, including DraftKings. The Clippers are currently favored to win, but the Bulls have a chance to spoil their stay. The game will be a close and exciting one, with both teams looking to come out on top. The Clippers need to win to stay in the playoff race, while the Bulls are looking to win two straight games for the first time since the opening week of January.