The Chicago Bulls (14-15) travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks (15-16) in a quick rematch just two days after their high-scoring thriller on December 21, where the Bulls edged out a 152-150 victory. This Eastern Conference clash pits two middling teams against each other, with Chicago riding a wave of offensive firepower but defensive vulnerabilities, while Atlanta seeks revenge at home amid injury woes and inconsistent play. The Bulls have won the last two meetings this season, but the Hawks hold a slight edge in overall talent when healthy. Expect another shootout given both teams’ fast paces and poor defenses.
Venue Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA. This 18,118-seat venue has been a mixed bag for the Hawks this season, where they’ve posted a 5-9 home record, struggling to capitalize on home-court advantage.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. The game will air on CHSN (Bulls feed) and FanDuel Sports Network (Hawks feed), with national streaming available via NBA League Pass.
Injury Report
Both teams are dealing with significant absences, but Atlanta’s list is longer and more impactful, potentially hampering their depth in this rematch. Reports are as of December 22 evening.
Chicago Bulls:
Out: Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery), Trentyn Flowers (G League – two-way), Emanuel Miller (G League – two-way).
Probable: Ayo Dosunmu (right thumb sprain – played through it on Dec 21).
Questionable/Downgraded: Coby White (status downgraded after Dec 21 game; potential rest or minor issue from the high-minute outing).
Notable Notes: The Bulls are relatively healthy otherwise, with Matas Buzelis and Zach LaVine stepping up in recent games. No major new injuries reported from the Dec 21 win.
Atlanta Hawks:
Out: Dyson Daniels (right hip inflammation), N’Faly Dante (G League – on assignment), Nikola Djurisic (G League – two-way), Lachlan Olbrich (G League – two-way), Mouhamed Gueye (right shoulder sprain – questionable but likely out).
Questionable: Trae Young (minutes restriction post-MCL sprain recovery; played limited role on Dec 21), Vit Krejci (potential rest after heavy minutes).
Notable Notes: Young returned recently after missing 22 games but is on a minutes cap, limiting his impact. The Hawks’ frontcourt is thin without Gueye, forcing reliance on Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson. Dominick Barlow (recent G League recall) may see spot minutes.
Atlanta’s injuries could prove costly against Chicago’s balanced scoring attack, especially if Young’s restriction persists.
Player Matchups
This rematch highlights perimeter battles and interior clashes, with both teams’ offenses relying on star guards and versatile forwards. Atlanta’s defensive issues (allowing 118.2 PPG) could be exploited by Chicago’s shooters.
Trae Young (ATL) vs. Coby White/Ayo Dosunmu (CHI): Young’s playmaking (averaging 26.4 PPG, 10.8 APG pre-injury) will test Chicago’s backcourt defense, ranked 24th in opponent assists allowed. If White (questionable) sits, Dosunmu steps up after his 18-point Dec 21 performance. Young scored just 8 points in limited minutes last game; expect more aggression if cleared for full load.
Jalen Johnson (ATL) vs. Matas Buzelis (CHI): Johnson exploded for 36 points and 10 rebounds in the Dec 21 loss, showcasing his athleticism. Buzelis (28 points on Dec 21, season-high) matches up well with his length and shooting (43% from three recently), potentially neutralizing Johnson’s drives in a rookie-vs-sophomore duel.
Onyeka Okongwu (ATL) vs. Nikola Vucevic (CHI): Okongwu’s energy (23 points on Dec 21) faces Vucevic’s veteran post play (18.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG). Chicago’s interior defense ranks 19th, so Okongwu could dominate rebounds if Gueye is out.
Other Key Battles: Zach LaVine (CHI, 22.7 PPG) vs. Dejounte Murray (ATL) – LaVine’s scoring could exploit Atlanta’s 27th-ranked perimeter D. Vit Krejci (ATL, 20 points Dec 21) provides secondary scoring if Daniels sits.
Chicago’s nine players in double figures from Dec 21 highlight their depth advantage over Atlanta’s injury-hit roster.
Recent Team Forms
The Bulls are surging offensively, while the Hawks have faltered amid injuries.
Chicago Bulls (Last 5 Games):
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Dec 21 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 152-150 |
| Dec 14 | vs. New York Knicks | W 124-118 |
| Dec 12 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 110-115 |
| Dec 7 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-108 |
| Dec 5 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 105-120 |
Form: 3-2 in last 5, averaging 120.6 PPG while allowing 122.2. Their Dec 21 win was the season’s highest-scoring game, with nine players in double figures and strong fourth-quarter execution (38 points).
Atlanta Hawks (Last 5 Games):
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Dec 21 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 150-152 |
| Dec 18 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 126-133 |
| Dec 5 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 133-134 |
| Dec 3 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-112 |
| Nov 25 | @ Washington Wizards | L 113-132 |
Form: 1-4 in last 5, averaging 124.0 PPG but surrendering 130.6. Defensive lapses doomed them in the Dec 21 loss despite 150 points scored; Johnson’s 36 led the way, but they couldn’t stop Chicago’s balanced attack.
Chicago’s momentum from the recent win gives them an edge, but Atlanta’s home desperation could spark a response.
Series History
Chicago leads the all-time series 143-122 in regular-season games (54.0% win rate) and 7-5 in playoffs. Recently, the Bulls have dominated, going 12-8 in the last 20 meetings (including the Dec 21 win). Atlanta snapped a three-game skid with a 141-133 victory on Dec 26, 2024 (prior season), but Chicago won the first two this year (125-113 on Nov 9, 136-122 on Nov 22). The Hawks are 7-3 at home vs. Bulls over the last 10.
Betting Trends
Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in last 5 games overall and 1-4 ATS as favorites. Bulls are 4-1 ATS in last 5 road games and 3-2 ATS as underdogs. Over is 4-1 in Hawks’ last 5 home games and 5-0 in last 5 vs. Bulls. Under is 3-2 in Chicago’s last 5 road tilts. Bulls are 6-2 ATS after a win; Hawks 2-6 ATS after a loss. Series games have gone over in 7 of last 10.
Game Odds
Chicago Bulls 251.5
Atlanta Hawks – 4.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, December 22, 2025
