Chicago Bulls – Charlotte Hornets: Play-In preview?
Last meeting of the season between the Bulls and Hornets — both still fighting for a Play-In spot in the East, but heading in opposite directions. Charlotte’s riding the momentum it found early in the year. The Bulls? One loss away from a brutal 10-game skid. Can they do what the Kings did and stop the rot tonight, or will the slide keep rolling?
Chicago Bulls: avoid a 10th straight defeat 
Since that final game of the three-way stint with Miami, the Bulls haven’t won once. Bottom line: Billy Donovan’s side hasn’t seen victory all February. Blame a murderously tough schedule and a roster shaken up by trades and injuries. In February Chicago has faced Toronto twice, Denver, Boston, Detroit and New York. This night against Charlotte isn’t exactly a giveaway — the Hornets are getting suspended players back.
To stop a tenth loss in a row, the Bulls will lean on the league’s 12th-ranked offense (116.1 points). When Josh Giddey’s on the floor — which he will be tonight — Chicago pushes the pace and tries to run. That’s exciting when shots fall. It’s disastrous when they don’t. With only one true center in Nick Richards, they can get bullied on the boards and see games decided by halftime if their shot deserts them.
INJURY REPORT : Jaden Ivey (OUT) – Anfernee Simons (OUT) – Jalen Smith (questionable)
Charlotte Hornets: finally Coby White on the verge? 
After a reality check with two losses to sturdy playoff teams (101-105 vs Houston and 113-118 vs Cleveland), the Hornets bounced back and rolled the Wizards 129-112, powered by LaMelo Ball cooking from deep (37 points, 10/15 on threes). Charlotte sits 10th in the East, 0.5 games behind the Hawks and four games off the Heat and Magic in 8th and 7th.
The end-of-season mission is obvious: climb the ladder. That means dominating the nights you’re supposed to — like this one against a wounded Bulls team. Coach Charles Lee will lean on defense (10th-best, allowing 113.7 points) and a rebounding edge, especially now that Moussa Diabaté is back from suspension.
INJURY REPORT : Tidjane Salaun (OUT) – Liam McNeeley (OUT) – Ryan Kalkbrenner (probable) – Coby White (probable)
Probable starters
Chicago Bulls : Josh Giddey, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis, Guerschon Yabusele, Jalen Smith
Charlotte Hornets : LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabaté
NBA Pick Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets
Hornets to score over 118.5 points
The Bulls’ defense ranks among the league’s worst (5th-worst, giving up 120.3 points per game). The Hornets have shown they can ignite as a unit, especially against porous defenses. With Nick Richards the only true big on the roster, Chicago struggles to finish defensive possessions — which points to a high number for their opponents tonight.
_____
First, a word on our picks
- What we publish on Mathodds are analyses. Nothing more. We give an opinion, a snapshot, not a promise. Sport is inherently unpredictable. A red card, a sudden injury, a freak goal — the script flips in a heartbeat.
- Let’s be blunt: there’s no such thing as a risk-free bet. Even when something looks obvious, it rarely is. Yes, you can lose. At some point you will.
- Play it smart. Bet small, set a bankroll, and stick to it. Don’t touch money you need for bills. Don’t chase losses — that rarely ends well.
- Betting should be entertainment, not a job or income plan. If it’s taking over your life, making you anxious or stressed, step back. Speak to a specialist if you need to. That’s what they’re there for.
- Ultimately, the responsibility is yours. Reading our content means you accept that risk exists and it won’t vanish, not even with the tightest analysis.
- Important reminder: betting is forbidden to minors and must follow your local laws. Gambling can spiral (money loss, family strain, addiction). Need help? Call 09 74 75 13 13 (non-premium rate) https://www.gambleaware.org/.
No liability from our side
Our picks aren’t a contract. They carry no legal weight. In short: you can’t rely on them to demand compensation if a bet goes wrong.
Information can change
A pick is based on what we know when we write it. Between then and game time a lineup changes, a player gets hurt, weather shifts — and the analysis can become obsolete fast. We can’t be held responsible for that.
Your role
Before you bet, make sure gambling is legal where you live. If it isn’t, that’s on you, not us.
Responsible gambling first
We can’t say it enough: play responsibly. If you’re struggling to control it, get help. We’re not responsible for compulsive or excessive use of our content.
Legal age
Mathodds content is for adults only. By browsing here, you confirm you’re of the legal age to gamble.
About the visuals
The images and logos on Mathodds, including those of the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets and other NBA material, are used only to illustrate our articles. They don’t mean we have an official link with any federation or sports organization, and we don’t claim any rights over them.
Those rights belong to the original creators. If an image slips through that causes an issue, contact us and it will be removed without delay.
Our only aim with these visuals is to make the reading experience better. Nothing more. No commercial claim, no stealing someone else’s work.
Leave a Reply