Bulls face off against Shaq and Lakers

The Bulls’ latest loss came on Tuesday evening in Phoenix when the Suns won a 95-82 decision at America West Arena. It was the first game of a five-game road trip for Chicago.

Kendall Gill led the Bulls with 23 points in the loss. Tyson Chandler added 12 and Eddy Curry and Marcus Fizer each had 10, as Chicago lost for the fourth time in five games.

The Lakers have won four of their last five games and are coming off a 104-83 rout of the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening at Madison Square Garden.

O’Neal scored a game-high 23 points and Kobe Bryant added 21 in the lopsided victory.

Karl Malone posted 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, while Gary Payton chipped in 11 points in the win.

LA came up huge at the foul line, hitting 37-of-47 attempts for the stripe. Meanwhile. New York went to the line only six times and made all six of their attempts.

Surprisingly, the Bulls have won three of their last four meetings with the powerful Lakers. Chicago split the two-game season series last season with each team winning on its home court.

However, the Bulls have not fared well in LA recently, dropping five of their last six in the City of Angels. Chicago has just one win in four all-time trips to the Staples Center.

Chicago will be seeking its first win in six games against the Western Conference this season.

The Bulls are hoping to have guard Jamal Crawford back for tonight’s game. He has missed the last two games after suffering a neck sprain in last Thursday’s loss to Minnesota. He fell awkwardly on his head during the fourth quarter and was taken from the court on a stretcher. Crawford is questionable for tonight’s game.

The Lakers have taken six of the last nine meetings with Chicago.

The Lakers, meanwhile, are 5-2 against the East and are also undefeated in their home arena this year, going 5-0 at the Staples Center.