Bulls tipoff

Los Angeles Lakers at the United Center, 8:30 p.m.

TV: TNT

Radio: ESPN 1000-AM

Update: These teams haven’t met since the opening day of last season, when Derrick Rose’s running one-hander with 4.8 seconds left gave the Bulls an 88-87 win on Christmas at the Staples Center. Kobe Bryant leads the league in scoring at 29.7 points per game, and with Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao on the injured list, Dwight Howard has moved up to No. 1 in rebounds at 12.7 per game. But the Lakers still are out of playoff position at 17-23 following Sunday’s loss at Toronto. The Lakers rank 26th in points allowed at 101.4.

Next: Detroit Pistons at the United Center, 7 p.m. Wednesday

— Mike McGraw