Bulls Survive Hornets Late Push in Charlotte
The Chicago Bulls escaped Charlotte with a 129–126 win over the Hornets in a game defined by resilience on both sides despite significant absences. Chicago was without Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter, while the Hornets were missing even more firepower with LaMelo Ball, Collin Sexton, Tre Mann, and Grant Williams all sidelined. Even so, the Hornets showed fight for all four quarters and kept the game within one possession until the final seconds. The energy inside Spectrum Center reflected how competitive the night became despite the depleted rotations.
Charlotte’s offense was driven by Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges, who consistently made plays both as scorers and facilitators. Knueppel finished with 33 points and nine assists, repeatedly attacking the Bulls’ defense and stretching the floor late. Bridges matched his intensity with 32 points and seven assists, giving Chicago constant problems off the dribble and in transition. Brandon Miller added 18 points, while Sion James chipped in 14 off the bench, and Ryan Kalkbrenner and KJ Simpson each scored 10 to round out a balanced effort.
Chicago answered with strong guard play and timely bench production. Josh Giddey led the way with 26 points and 11 assists, controlling the tempo and creating quality looks throughout the night. Coby White added 20 points and delivered at the free throw line in the closing moments. Chicago also received key contributions from Patrick Williams and Zach Collins, who scored 16 points apiece off the bench, while Isaac Okoro had 15, Nikola Vučević posted 13, Matas Buzelis added 10, and Jalen Smith pulled down 10 rebounds.
The final sequence sealed the outcome in Chicago’s favor after a crucial defensive stand. Knueppel missed a potential game-tying three, and a foul initially called on the Bulls was overturned following a successful coach’s challenge, allowing Chicago to keep possession. Coby White calmly knocked down two free throws to push the lead to five, effectively ending the Hornets’ comeback hopes. A last-second basket by the Hornets made the score closer, though the Bulls had already done enough to close out a hard-fought road win.
