February 24, 2026 | United Center | 7:00 PM CT | NBC Sports Chicago
After getting absolutely handled by Detroit and New York on back-to-back nights, the Chicago Bulls (24–32) finally catch a break. The Charlotte Hornets (20–36) come to town, and they’re even worse than we are.
LaMelo Ball is electric and Brandon Miller has upside, but the Hornets are 14th in the East and giving up 118.7 points per game. We’re 12th and giving up 120.4. This is basically a contest to see which bad defensive team can outscore the other.
For Bulls fans who’ve watched us get embarrassed by playoff teams all week, this is our chance to actually win a game at home. No excuses. No moral victories. Just beat a team we’re supposed to beat.
Where the Bulls Stand (Still Not Great)
Record: 24–32 (12th in East)
We’re eight games under .500 and the play-in race is basically over. The season’s slipping away, and at this point, we’re playing for pride and trying to figure out what this roster actually is.
What’s Working:
- We’re 3rd in the East in three-point shooting (14.6 made per game)
- Ball movement is solid (29.1 assists per game)
- DeMar DeRozan is still getting his mid-range buckets
What’s Not Working:
- Defense is terrible (120.4 points allowed per game)
- Rebounding is a problem (42.1 per game)
- Consistency doesn’t exist—we’ll look competent one night, then fall apart the next
DeMar DeRozan, Anfernee Simons, and Collin Sexton can all score. But if we’re giving up 120 points every night, it doesn’t matter. Against Charlotte’s 14th-ranked defense, we should be able to put up numbers. The question is whether we can actually get stops.
The Charlotte Hornets: Young, Talented, and Still Losing
Record: 20–36 (14th in East)
Charlotte is bad, but they’re fun-bad. LaMelo Ball is one of the most entertaining players in the league—no-look passes, deep threes, highlight-reel plays every night. Brandon Miller is developing into a legitimate scorer. Mark Williams provides rim protection when healthy.
Key Players:
- LaMelo Ball: Creative playmaker with range to halfcourt, makes the Hornets watchable
- Brandon Miller: Second-year wing with scoring versatility and defensive upside
- Mark Williams: Rim-running center who blocks shots and finishes lobs
The Hornets play fast, shoot threes, and rely on Ball to create everything. When he’s rolling, they’re dangerous. When he’s off or the defense shows up, they get blown out.
Sound familiar? That’s basically us too.
Breaking Down the Matchup
| Category | Bulls | Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 114.8 | 111.2 |
| Points Allowed | 120.4 | 118.7 |
| Assists Per Game | 29.1 | 26.9 |
| 3-Pointers Made | 14.6 | 12.8 |
| Rebounding | 42.1 | 44.0 |
We score more. We pass better. We shoot more threes. They rebound slightly better and defend slightly less terribly. But honestly, both teams are bad defensively, so this is going to be a shootout.
The rebounding gap is small, but Mark Williams could dominate the glass if we’re not physical. We can’t let him get easy putbacks and second-chance points.
What the Bulls Need to Do to Win
DeMar DeRozan Controls the Game
This is a game DeMar should dominate. Charlotte doesn’t have anyone who can consistently stop his mid-range game. He needs 25+ points on efficient shooting, and he needs to control the tempo when things get chaotic.
Hit Threes Early and Often
We shoot 14.6 threes per game compared to their 12.8. That’s our advantage. If Simons, Sexton, and our shooters can knock down 15+ threes, we pull away. If we go cold, Charlotte can steal this.
Limit LaMelo Ball’s Playmaking
Ball’s going to get his highlights. He’ll hit a deep three, throw a ridiculous pass, and make you shake your head. But if we can force him into tough shots and limit his assists, we control the game. Make someone else beat us.
Anfernee Simons Needs to Show Up
Simons has the talent to drop 30 on any given night. Against Charlotte’s weak perimeter defense, this is his chance to have a signature game in front of the United Center crowd. Get hot early and force Charlotte to adjust.
Win the Rebounding Battle
Mark Williams is a problem on the glass. If he’s getting offensive rebounds and extending possessions, we’re in trouble. Box out, crash the boards, and don’t let them get easy second-chance points.
What Charlotte Will Bring
LaMelo Ball will be LaMelo Ball—creative, flashy, and frustrating to defend. Brandon Miller will get his shots and probably hit a couple tough ones. Mark Williams will finish lobs and protect the rim.
But the Hornets are 20–36 for a reason. They’re young, inconsistent, and prone to defensive breakdowns. If we execute and take care of the ball, we should win this comfortably.
The question is whether we’ll actually do that.
The Betting Lines (We’re Actually Favored)
- Spread: Bulls -4.5
- Over/Under: 235.0
- Moneyline: Bulls -180, Hornets +150
We’re 4.5-point favorites at home, which feels about right. Charlotte’s worse than us, but they’re scrappy and Ball can take over games. The over/under at 235.0 is basically Vegas saying “both defenses are terrible, expect a shootout.”
We’ve covered in 3 of our last 5 games. Charlotte is 2–8 in their last 10. This is a game we should win, which makes it even more frustrating if we don’t.
Bulls Fan Prediction: We Finally Win at Home
Final Score: Bulls 117, Hornets 111
DeMar DeRozan controls the game with 28 points on efficient mid-range shooting. Anfernee Simons gets hot in the third quarter and drops 25. Collin Sexton provides 18 off the bench with smart playmaking.
LaMelo Ball goes off for 30+ with crazy assists and deep threes, but we hit our shots and stay ahead. Brandon Miller keeps Charlotte close with some tough buckets, but our offensive firepower is too much.
It’s not pretty. Both teams will give up 110+. But we execute down the stretch, knock down free throws, and finally protect home court against a team we’re supposed to beat.
Six-point win feels right. Close enough to keep it interesting, comfortable enough that we’re never really in danger.
Why This Game Actually Matters
We’re 12th in the East. The play-in is basically gone. The season’s essentially over in terms of realistic playoff hopes.
So why does tonight matter?
Because we need to beat teams we’re supposed to beat. We’ve lost to Detroit and New York—playoff teams with real talent. That’s expected. But if we can’t handle Charlotte at home, what does that say about this roster?
The Hornets are 20–36. They’re bad. If we lose to them at the United Center, it’s embarrassing. And for a fanbase that’s endured so much mediocrity, another embarrassing home loss would be brutal.
Plus, LaMelo Ball is fun to watch. Even if we win, he’s going to do something ridiculous that makes you go “how did he even see that pass?” But we need to make sure his highlights don’t come in a Hornets victory.
See Red. Let’s finally protect home court.
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