The Chicago Bulls (9-14) hit the road desperate to snap a brutal seven-game skid when they face the Charlotte Hornets (7-17) on Friday night. Both teams are mired in the Eastern Conference basement, with Chicago clinging to the 11th seed and Charlotte dead last in the Southeast. The Bulls’ injury-riddled backcourt has stifled their offense, while the Hornets’ youth movement shows flashes but lacks consistency without LaMelo Ball. Expect a gritty, low-possession affair at Spectrum Center, where Josh Giddey’s playmaking could exploit Charlotte’s depleted guards, but Miles Bridges’ scoring punch keeps it close.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina (capacity: 19,077). The Hornets’ downtown arena has been a tough venue for visitors this season (5-7 home record), with its fast-paced court favoring transition attacks.
Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Southeast (FDSSE) and Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) (TV); NBA League Pass (streaming). Radio: Bulls Radio Network and Hornets Radio Network.
Injury Report
Injuries have decimated both rosters, particularly in the backcourt—Chicago without key guards, Charlotte missing its star point guard. Updates as of December 11, 2025; expect final confirmation pre-tip.
Chicago Bulls (9-14)
| Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Ayo Dosunmu | G | Out | Right Thumb; Sprain | Missed last three games; critical bench spark (12.5 PPG). |
| Kevin Huerter | G | Out | Left Adductor; Strain | Acquired midseason, sidelined since debut; shooter impacts spacing. |
| Noa Essengue | F | Out | Left Shoulder; Surgery | Season-ending; limited rookie minutes anyway. |
| Zach Collins | F | Probable | Left Scaphoid; Fracture | Full practice; adds frontcourt depth if cleared. |
| Tre Jones | G | Probable | Left Ankle; Sprain | Practiced fully; backup PG with 7+ APG potential. |
| Jalen Smith | F | Probable | Left Hamstring; Strain | Missed five straight; strong bench rebounder (8+ RPG). |
| Isaac Okoro | F | Probable | Left Lumbar; Radiculopathy | Out since November; defensive wing returns boosts perimeter D. |
Charlotte Hornets (7-17)
| Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| LaMelo Ball | G | Out | Left Ankle; Bone Bruise | Star PG out indefinitely; 25+ PPG engine, massive loss for creation. |
| Pat Connaughton | G | Out | Right Calf; Strain | Veteran addition; missed month, impacts 3&D role. |
| Tre Mann | G | Out | Right Knee; Bone Bruise | Fifth straight absence; bench scorer averages 15 PPG when healthy. |
| Collin Sexton | G | Out | Left Thigh; Strain | Third game missed; aggressive scorer (18 PPG) behind Ball. |
| Grant Williams | F | Out | Right Knee; ACL | Season-ending; frontcourt enforcer. |
| Moussa Diabate | F | Questionable | Right Knee; Soreness | Rebounding leader (7.8 RPG); limited practice, monitor for minutes. |
| Josh Green | G | Probable | Left Shoulder; Surgery | Season debut likely; adds wing defense after offseason trade. |
Key Player Matchups
With Ball sidelined, Charlotte leans on Bridges and Miller for scoring, while Chicago’s Giddey-Vucevic duo must navigate a shorthanded Hornets backcourt. These battles could dictate tempo and efficiency in a projected 115-110 Bulls win.
Chicago PG Josh Giddey vs. Charlotte PG KJ Simpson: Giddey (20.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 8.9 APG over last 10) exploits mismatches with vision; Simpson (filling Ball’s role, 12 PPG) must contain drives—Giddey averaged 25 vs. CHA in November win.
Chicago C Nikola Vucevic vs. Charlotte SF Miles Bridges: Vucevic (18.5 PPG, 10 RPG) dominates paint; Bridges (21.0 PPG) switches onto bigs but yields 1.2 offensive boards/gm to centers—key for second-chance points.
Chicago SG Coby White vs. Charlotte SG Brandon Miller: White (probable, 18 PPG) tests Miller’s on-ball D (1.1 SPG); Miller (19 PPG) thrives in isos but struggles vs. quick guards (opponents shoot 46% when guarded).
Chicago SF Matas Buzelis vs. Charlotte PF Moussa Diabate (if plays): Rookie Buzelis (1.4 BPG) brings length; Diabate (7.8 RPG) battles on glass—Bulls rank 22nd in opponent RPG, vulnerable to physicality.
Matchups favor Chicago’s experience, but Hornets’ youth could force turnovers (Bulls 15/gm last 5).
Team Records and Recent Form
Both squads fight for lottery positioning, with Chicago’s skid contrasting Charlotte’s sporadic home wins. Bulls host the 3rd-toughest schedule; Hornets face rebuild woes.
| Team | Record | Conf. Record | Streak | Division Rank |
| Chicago Bulls | 9-14 | 2-9 | L7 | 3rd Central |
| Charlotte Hornets | 7-17 | 1-9 | L2 | 4th Southeast |
Recent Form (Last 5 Games)
Chicago: 0-5. Losses: 91-123 vs. GSW (shooting woes, 36% FG), 105-120 vs. IND (turnover plague, 19), 103-113 vs. BKN (defensive lapse, 113 allowed), 120-125 vs. ORL (clutch failure), 112-118 vs. MIA (road skid extends). Offense: 104.2 PPG; Defense: 117.8 PPG allowed. Giddey’s heroics (20+ in 4) can’t offset injuries.
Charlotte: 2-3. Wins: 111-86 at TOR (defensive masterclass, 14 steals), 118-111 vs. TOR (Knueppel 21 PTS). Losses: 106-115 vs. DEN (Ball exit hurts), 104-119 at NYK (poor shooting, 40% FG), 103-116 at BKN (road fatigue). Offense: 108.4 PPG; Defense: 105.4 allowed. Bridges/Miller combine for 40+ in wins.
Bulls’ skid meets Hornets’ home vulnerability (3-7 last 10 home).
Series History
Chicago owns the edge in this Atlantic Division rivalry (dating to 1988), winning 8 of last 10. Recent games trend high-scoring (avg. 230+ PTS last 5), with overs 6-4.
| All-Time Record | Bulls Wins | Hornets Wins | Last 10 (2016-2025) |
| Bulls 86-48 | 86 | 48 | Bulls 8-2 |
Notable: Bulls’ 131-117 rout (Apr 2025); Hornets’ 123-116 upset (Nov 2025). Bulls 7-3 ATS last 10; home teams 6-4 SU.
Betting Trends
Chicago 1-9 ATS last 10; Charlotte 11-10 ATS as dogs. Series: Bulls 5-1 ATS road vs. CHA last 6.
Game Odds
Chicago Bulls – 3.5
Charlotte Hornets 229.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, December 11, 2025
