PREVIEW: The Los Angeles Lakers travel to the United Center on Monday night, January 26, 2026, with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. Los Angeles enters this matchup with a 27-17 overall record and has demonstrated competitive ability on the road this season. The Lakers bring elite rim attacking efficiency ranked first in the league, combined with the league's highest free throw rate, though their shot selection shows a low frequency of rim attacks at 25th. Statistically, the Lakers average 116.0 points per game while allowing 116.2, and they shoot 49 percent from the field, which remains one of their biggest strengths. Chicago arrives at 23-22 overall and has quietly built momentum with strong recent performances, feeding off crowd energy at home. The Bulls rank second in good passing and feature high frequency attacking rim and post-up shots, though their defense allows too many rim attacks and struggles with offensive rebounding. The Bulls average 117.9 points per game while allowing 119.7, shoot 48 percent from the field, and average an impressive 29.9 assists per game pointing to unselfish play. The Lakers are listed as 1.5-point road favorites with the total set at 234 points in what shapes up as a tightly contested interconference battle.