Hornets Take Control Against the Bulls in Chicago
Charlotte opened the night on the road, facing early resistance as Chicago dictated the pace in the first quarter with strong interior play. Nikola Vucevic was highly efficient early, scoring repeatedly in the paint while Matas Buzelis added energy on the perimeter. The Hornets stayed within striking distance behind steady offense from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, but defensive breakdowns allowed the Bulls to build separation. Chicago closed the opening frame firmly in control with a 39–27 advantage.
The second quarter brought a noticeable shift as Charlotte began to impose their defensive identity. Their ball pressure improved, rotations were sharper, and Chicago struggled to maintain the same offensive rhythm outside of Vucevic. Collin Sexton provided an immediate spark off the bench by attacking the rim and drawing fouls, helping stabilize their offense. Charlotte outscored the Bulls 23–19 in the period, cutting the deficit to 58–50 at halftime.
Charlotte completely flipped the game in the third quarter with their most complete stretch of basketball. Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel knocked down timely three-pointers, forcing Chicago to defend the full width of the floor. Miles Bridges dominated the glass and finished through contact, while the Hornets limited the Bulls to just 17 points in the period. Charlotte’s 32–17 third-quarter surge gave them an 82–75 lead heading into the fourth.
The fourth quarter tested Charlotte’s composure, and they delivered with smart offense and solid defensive rotations. LaMelo Ball controlled the tempo and created opportunities, while the Hornets’ superior shooting from three and the free-throw line proved decisive. Chicago tried to rally behind Vucevic and Ayo Dosunmu off the bench, but missing Josh Giddey and Coby White robbed them of nearly 40 points a game and all-around impact. Charlotte closed the quarter 30–24 to secure a 112–99 road victory, highlighted by their 10% better three-point shooting and 12% better free-throw efficiency compared with Chicago.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 26 points and 14 rebounds, setting the physical tone throughout the night. Brandon Miller added 22 points, Kon Knueppel finished with 18, and Ball contributed 17 points and seven assists, while Sexton chipped in 13 off the bench and PJ Hall, called up from the G League due to injuries to the Hornets’ other big men, contributed important minutes inside, adding 10. Chicago was led by Vucevic’s 28 points, with Matas Buzelis scoring 17, Ayo Dosunmu providing 16 off the bench, and Tre Jones adding 10. The win improves the Hornets to 12–23 as they head to Oklahoma City for a difficult game to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, while the Bulls fall to 17–18 ahead of a matchup with Jaylen Brown and the Celtics in Boston, both on Monday night.
