The Charlotte Hornets travel to face the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday at United Center in Chicago. The Bulls have struggled mightily recently, carrying a nine-game losing streak into this matchup, while the Hornets have been trending upward as they continue to contend for a spot in the playoffs. Here, I break down this matchup in the Eastern Conference and make my Hornets vs Bulls prediction in the betting markets.
Our Hornets vs Bulls Pick
Pick: Hornets -8.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Charlotte Hornets @ Chicago Bulls
Date & Time: Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 8:00 PM ET
Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
Chicago is in a deep rut, sitting on a nine-game losing streak and going 0-6 at home in their last games, struggling on both ends of the floor.
The Hornets have been much better recently, winning 7 of their last 10 and showing life in Eastern Conference play.
The recent trade activity that saw Charlotte acquire former Bulls guard Coby White adds an intriguing subplot to this showdown. White helped the Bulls to win in Charlotte earlier this season, but he is questionable for this game with a calf injury.
Key Players
Charlotte Hornets
Brandon Miller – Leads Charlotte in scoring at around 20.5 PPG, and has been consistent in their recent surge.
Kon Knueppel – A rookie wing who contributes 19.2 points a game and stretches the floor with his three-point shooting.
LaMelo Ball – Although somewhat limited in scoring volume at times, Ball provides elite playmaking with over 7 assists per contest and creates opportunities for others.
Ryan Kalkbrenner – Big man presence in the paint, anchoring Charlotte’s defense, providing rebound and block production. He is questionable for this game along with White.
Chicago Bulls
Josh Giddey – A central playmaker for Chicago with near triple-double averages, creating offense and facilitating for teammates.
Matas Buzelis – Leading scorer for the Bulls in recent games, averaging about 15 points and chipping in on the boards.
Jalen Smith – Provides interior scoring and rebounding when available, though listed as questionable for this game.
Isaac Okoro – Offers defensive activity and versatile wing minutes when healthy.
Stat Comparison
Stat
Hornets
Bulls
Points per game
115.6
116.1
Points allowed per game
113.7
120.3
Team Field Goal %
46%
47%
Rebounds per game
46.1
44.8
Assists per game
26.4
29.0
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
Charlotte is 2-1 against the Bulls so far this season. This is their final meeting of this year's regular season.
Charlotte is tied for the best record against the spread in the NBA this year at 35-23.
Chicago is 26-32 against the spread for the year.
Hornets vs Bulls Model Projection
Score Projection: Hornets 118 – Bulls 108 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Hornets 58%, Bulls 42% ATS PRO
Final Thoughts
Given the Hornets’ recent surge and Chicago’s extended skid, Charlotte appears well-positioned to win in Chicago. While the Bulls have proven themselves capable of beating the Hornets earlier this season, I'm going to lay the points with the Hornets, given how well they have played since that loss to the Bulls in December.
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