Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls Betting Pick & Prediction 1/17/25
At 8:00 ET, the Bulls (-176) will host the Hornets (+148) in a matchup between two Eastern Conference teams. Chicago is currently favored by 4.5 points and has dropped three straight games. Charlotte is 14th in the East and 4th in the Southeast Division with a record of 9-28.
This game will take place at the United Center in Chicago and can be seen on CHSN. The over/under line for this matchup is 235.5.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS VS CHICAGO BULLS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Chicago Bulls -4.5
This game will be played at United Center at 8:00 ET on Friday, January 17th.
WHY BET THE CHICAGO BULLS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 137-124 in favor of the Bulls.
- Our projections have Zach LaVine finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
- From the field, we have the Bulls finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.4% and knocking down 19 threes.
Does Charlotte Have What it Takes on the Road?
The Hornets improved to 9-28 on the season with a 117-112 win over the Jazz on Wednesday. Charlotte was favored by 5.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, winning by five. The total score of 229 points went over the pre-game line of 221.5.
Charlotte’s defense stepped up in the 4th quarter, holding Utah to 25 points while scoring 37. The Hornets overcame an 11-0 run by the Jazz early in the game, where Utah took the lead from 20-17 to 28-20.
Mark Williams dominated in the Hornets’ win over the Jazz, shooting 85.7% from the field and finishing with 31 points and 13 rebounds. He was especially impactful in the 4th quarter, scoring 15 points. LaMelo Ball added 27 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, while Miles Bridges contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, the Hornets shot 52.9% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 30.8% of their threes, making 12 in total. Brandon Miller chipped in 20 points, with 9 of those coming in the 3rd quarter.
Despite a rough start, allowing 33 points in the 1st quarter, the Hornets tightened up defensively, giving up just 25 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters to secure a 117-112 win over the Jazz. Charlotte allowed Utah to shoot 46% from the field.
The Hornets held the Jazz to 16 made threes on 37% shooting from deep and sent them to the line 17 times, where they made 10 free throws. Charlotte also recorded 34 defensive rebounds, gave up 9 offensive boards, and added 6 steals and 6 blocks.
Will the Bulls Pull Through as the Favored Home Team?
The Bulls fell to 18-23 on the season after a 110-94 loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. Chicago, favored by 6.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 204 points was well below the O/U line of 236.
A key moment came when Atlanta went on a 15-0 run, turning a 28-27 lead into 42-28. Chicago tried to rally, winning the third quarter 31-25, but they were outscored 24-16 in the fourth.
In Wednesday’s loss to the Hawks, the Bulls managed just 94 points, shooting 44.3% from the field. Their three-point shooting was a major issue, as they hit only 6 threes at a 22.2% clip.
Coby White led the Bulls with 16 points, 9 of which came in the 3rd quarter. Zach LaVine added 15 points, scoring 5 in the 4th, while Nikola Vucevic contributed 14 points and 16 rebounds.
The Bulls’ defense allowed 110 points in their loss to the Hawks, giving up 27 points in the 1st quarter and 34 in the 2nd. They tightened up in the 2nd half, allowing 25 points in the 3rd and 24 in the 4th.
Chicago held Atlanta to 41% shooting, including 30% from three, where the Hawks made 13 threes. The Bulls sent the Hawks to the line 22 times, where they made 15 free throws. Defensively, the Bulls grabbed 45 rebounds, but allowed 14 offensive boards, while also recording 5 steals and 5 blocks.