Lakers News: Starting Lineups Revealed For LA-Chicago Clash

Including a familiar face on other side...

Your 15-12 Los Angeles Lakers head to the Windy City to hopefully take down the 11-17 Chicago Bulls tonight. Tip off is slated for right now.

The starting lineups for both franchises have been unveiled.

With two-time All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine, the subject of rampant Lakers-specific trade speculation, sitting out until at least mid-January due to right foot inflammation, former 2020 Los Angeles champ Alex Caruso has taken his place in the starting five, the Bulls have announced on their official Twitter/X account. 

He'll be adding some defensive moxie along with upstart point guard Coby White's heady scoring prowess in the backcourt. Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, an LA native and another possible Lakers trade target, will start at small forward, while former lottery pick Patrick Williams will jump at the four spot. Two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic will man the middle.

The Lakers, meanwhile, will trot out Darvin Ham's preferred first five, with now all of their rotation players healthy thanks to the return of Gabe Vincent to the lineup, albeit on a minutes restriction. As LA's official Twitter/X account notes, that comprises former All-Star D'Angelo Russell running point, Taurean Prince at shooting guard, Cam Reddish at small forward, All-NBA superstar LeBron James at the four, and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Anthony Davis at center.

According to The Action Network, the Lakers are -3.5-point favorites to win on the road, but Chicago has been scrappy sans a disengaged LaVine, having gone 6-3 across its past nine contests without him.