Bulls vs Hornets: Chicago Looks to Extend Charlotte’s

Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls December 30th 2024

At 7:00 ET, the 9th place Chicago Bulls (-213) will travel to take on the 13th place Charlotte Hornets (+176) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The over/under line for this game is 226.5.

Chicago (-5.5) is favored, and they are 14-18 on the season. Charlotte has lost seven straight games and is 7-24 overall. This game will be played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte and can be seen on CHSN.

Bulls vs. Hornets Key Information

Sport: NBA
Teams: Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets
Where: Charlotte at Spectrum Center
Date: Monday, December 30th
Betting Odds CHI -5.5, CHI -213 | CHA +176 O/U 226.5

The Bulls Can Win If…

The Bulls improved to 14-18 on the season with a 116-111 win over the Bucks on Saturday. Playing at home, Chicago entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 227, falling short of the 231.5-point O/U line.

Chicago started strong, leading 33-25 after the 1st quarter, but the Bucks fought back, outscoring the Bulls in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Heading into the 4th quarter down 84-83, the Bulls went on a decisive 10-0 run, taking the score from 86-85 to 95-86, and finished the quarter by outscoring Milwaukee 33-27.

Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey each scored 23 points in the Bulls’ win over the Bucks, with Giddey also adding 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Coby White contributed 22 points, including 9 in the 4th quarter.

Chicago hit 14 threes at a 38.9% rate, shooting 47.4% overall from the field. Vucevic made 3 threes, shooting 42.9% from deep.

Defensively, the Bulls gave up 111 points to the Bucks but managed to hold them to just 24 points in the 3rd quarter, which helped secure the win. Chicago allowed 35 points in the 2nd quarter but limited Milwaukee to 27 points in the 4th. Overall, the Bulls held the Bucks to 40% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Bucks hit 15 threes at a 33% clip. Milwaukee also went 14/14 from the free-throw line. The Bulls grabbed 41 defensive rebounds, allowing 6 offensive boards, and finished with 4 steals and 6 blocks.

In their last ten games away from home, the Bulls have a straight up record of 6-4 while going 5-4-1 vs. the spread. The team averaged 123 points per game in this stretch.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Bulls have gone 5-4-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 6-4.
Over their last five games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 1-4 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Hornets Can Win If…

The Hornets dropped to 7-24 on the season after a 106-94 loss to the Thunder on Saturday. Charlotte was +13.5 point underdogs going into the game and managed to cover the spread. The total score of 200 points fell short of the 214-point over/under line.

Charlotte fell behind early, trailing 61-46 at halftime. They were down 90-74 going into the 4th quarter but held the Thunder to 16 points in the final period while scoring 20 points themselves.

The Hornets struggled offensively in their 106-94 loss to the Thunder, shooting just 36.2% from the field. They made 11 threes at a 32.4% clip, with Vasilije Micic hitting 4 threes at 57.1% efficiency.

Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 19 points and 10 rebounds, scoring 10 points in the 4th quarter despite shooting 31.2% overall. Micic added 16 points, with 8 coming in the 2nd quarter and another 6 in the 4th.

Even with a strong defensive effort in the 4th quarter, where they allowed just 16 points, the Hornets couldn’t overcome the Thunder, giving up 106 points in the loss. Charlotte struggled in the 2nd quarter, allowing 33 points, but they managed to limit Oklahoma City’s damage from beyond the arc, holding them to 10 made threes on 26% shooting.

The Hornets sent the Thunder to the line 14 times, where they converted 12 free throws. Charlotte also gave up 9 offensive rebounds while collecting 9 steals and recording 5 blocks.

When looking at their past ten home matchups, Charlotte has an ATS record of 4-6 while averaging 106 per game. The team went 1-9 overall in these games.
The last ten games that Charlotte was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 4-6 while going 1-9 straight up.
In their last three games, the Hornets have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

The Bulls is our pick to not only win with a projected score of 142-135. But we also favor them to cover the spread. Our bet is on the Bulls at -5.5.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 226.5 and given that our model is projecting 277 points between the teams, we like the over.

Bulls Look to Keep Rolling While Hornets Try to Stop the Bleeding

The Chicago Bulls are feeling good after snapping a three-game losing streak, but they’re not slowing down just yet. On Monday, they’ll visit the Charlotte Hornets, a team in desperate need of a win after a brutal stretch of games.

Bulls Turn Things Around

Chicago got back in the win column with a 116-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. The stars of the night?

Josh Giddey: He dropped 23 points and added a monster triple-double with 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Giddey’s been on fire, becoming the first Bull to record multiple triple-doubles in a season since Jimmy Butler did it back in 2016-17.
Nikola Vucevic and Coby White: Both players stepped up big time, with Vucevic scoring 23 points and White adding 22.

This win came at just the right time, as the Bulls were on the verge of a four-game skid for the second time this season. Bulls guard Zach LaVine put it best: “We’ve shown we can beat anybody, but we’ve also shown we can lose to anybody. It’s all about staying consistent.”

Coach Billy Donovan echoed that, emphasizing the importance of smart decision-making. “We’ve grown as a team,” he said. “We’re learning to take better shots and make better choices as a group.”

Hornets’ Tough Road Ahead

Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets are in the middle of a rough patch—losing seven straight games and 15 of their last 16. The team has also been hit hard by injuries:

LaMelo Ball: The Hornets’ leading scorer, averaging 30.1 points per game (fourth-best in the NBA), is doubtful for Monday due to ankle and wrist injuries.
Brandon Miller: The rookie is also dealing with an ankle injury and is unlikely to play.

Without their stars, the Hornets fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, 106-94. Despite the struggles, coach Charles Lee remains optimistic. “There’s no quit in this team,” he said. “We’ve got to keep improving every day and find ways to stay focused.”

Center Mark Williams admitted the team’s current slump has taken a toll. “It’s like we’ve forgotten what winning feels like,” he said. “We just need to get back to enjoying the game and finding that energy again.”

Key Matchups to Watch

Josh Giddey vs. Hornets’ Defense: Giddey’s versatility will be a challenge for Charlotte, especially with their backcourt missing key players.
Nikola Vucevic vs. Mark Williams: Vucevic’s experience and scoring ability in the paint could make life tough for Williams, who will need to step up big time.
Bulls’ Consistency vs. Hornets’ Desperation: Chicago’s improved play and confidence may overwhelm a struggling Charlotte team unless the Hornets can dig deep and find some answers.

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What Happened Last Time

These two teams faced off on Dec. 13, with the Bulls cruising to a 109-95 win at home. Ayo Dosunmu led Chicago with 19 points, while Brandon Miller scored 21 for Charlotte. LaMelo Ball didn’t play in that game either, and Dosunmu won’t suit up this time around due to a calf injury.

What’s Next?

The Bulls are looking to keep building momentum as they push for a better spot in the Eastern Conference standings. For the Hornets, Monday is a chance to stop the skid and regain some confidence.

As coach Lee said, “Adversity is part of life—and basketball. The focus has to be on getting better every single day.”

Quick Facts

Last Game Results: Bulls beat Bucks 116-111; Hornets lost to Thunder 106-94.
Injuries: LaMelo Ball (Hornets) and Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls) are out.
Key Players to Watch: Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic (Bulls), and Mark Williams (Hornets)

Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls Picks and Predictions December 30th 2024