Hornets Snap Seven-Game Skid with Breakthrough Win Over the Bulls
The Charlotte Hornets finally snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 123–116 win over the Chicago Bulls in their final NBA Cup game Friday night, delivering one of their most complete performances in weeks. Brandon Miller set the tone early with 27 points, five made threes, and three blocks, giving Charlotte steady scoring whenever the game tightened. Miles Bridges added 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists while providing his usual physical impact on both ends. Collin Sexton supplied a major spark off the bench with 21 points, repeatedly attacking the rim and keeping Chicago’s defense on its heels. Charlotte shot 45 percent from the field and grabbed 46 rebounds, allowing them to maintain control late.
Charlotte entered the fourth quarter trailing 94–93 but responded with one of their strongest closing stretches of the season. The Hornets outscored the Bulls 30–22 in the final period by tightening up defensively and dominating the glass. LaMelo Ball finished with 16 points and eight assists, while Kon Knueppel added 12, both making key plays early even as their efficiency dipped late. Ryan Kalkbrenner contributed seven points, and his three blocks at the rim helped slow Chicago’s interior scoring. The balanced production allowed Charlotte to keep steady pressure on the Bulls until the final buzzer.
The Bulls stayed competitive behind several strong individual performances. Josh Giddey nearly logged a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, making tough plays throughout to keep Chicago within reach. Coby White also poured 25 points and remained aggressive throughout the game despite the Bulls’ shooting inconsistencies. Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and 14 rebounds for another reliable double-double. Kevin Huerter scored 11 points while Tre Jones added 16 off the bench, though Chicago struggled as a team from deep and finished only 8-for-36 from a three-point range. Chicago’s uneven shooting eventually made it difficult to keep pace with Charlotte late in the game.
Charlotte’s win served as a much-needed confidence boost as the team looks to regroup after a difficult stretch of games. The Hornets will return to action Saturday at 6 PM EST when they host Brandon Ingram and the Toronto Raptors. Meanwhile, the Bulls will try to halt their two-game skid as they travel to Indianapolis to face Pascal Siakam and the Pacers at 7:30 PM EST. Both teams will aim for more consistent performances as they navigate a tightly contested early-season slate.
