Charlotte Hornets @ Chicago Bulls - January 17, 2025

As we gear up for the matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and the Chicago Bulls at United Center, it’s clear that both teams are looking to turn their fortunes around. The Bulls come into this game as -5-point favorites, and while they’ve struggled recently, I believe they’ll find a way to cover the spread against a struggling Hornets squad.

Let’s dive into some numbers. The Bulls have averaged 118.1 points per game with an impressive shooting percentage of 47.1%. They also boast a solid three-point shooting percentage of 37.9%, which could be pivotal in breaking down Charlotte’s defense. However, despite their offensive prowess, Chicago has lost three straight games and is currently sitting at 18-23 overall.

On the other hand, Charlotte has had a tough season with a record of just 9-28. Their offensive output sits at only 106.3 points per game on a field goal percentage of 42.6%. This disparity in scoring will likely be magnified tonight as Chicago looks to exploit any defensive weaknesses from the Hornets.

Defensively, both teams have their issues; however, Chicago edges out slightly in terms of rebounds and steals per game—averaging about 45.6 total rebounds and 7.6 steals compared to Charlotte’s 46.4 rebounds and 8 steals per game—but it’s worth noting that turnovers could play a significant role here too. The Bulls average nearly 15 turnovers per game, while Charlotte gives it away even more often at over 16 turnovers per contest.

Another key trend is how these teams perform against spreads lately: Chicago has been inconsistent with a record of just 1-3-1 against the spread in their last five games, but given Charlotte’s recent form—losing three out of four games—they may struggle to keep pace tonight.

The total for this matchup opened at 233 points but considering both teams’ recent trends towards lower-scoring games (the Bulls have gone UNDER in five out of their last six contests), I anticipate we might see something similar tonight. With Charlotte averaging only around two assists less than Chicago but scoring significantly fewer points overall, it’s reasonable to expect that this game won’t reach its projected total.

In conclusion, my prediction for this evening’s matchup is that the Chicago Bulls will defeat the Charlotte Hornets by covering the -5 point spread while keeping the score under the set total of 233 points. With both teams facing challenges offensively and defensively, I expect this clash will highlight those weaknesses rather than showcase any strengths—leading us toward another low-scoring affair where every possession counts even more than usual.