The Hornets own the season series 2-1, including a recent 123-116 victory. This is not a close talent matchup. The Bulls are scoring only 108.8 points per game lately, and their defense ranks 25th in the league. Charlotte's Brandon Miller (20.5 PPG) and LaMelo Ball (21.1 PPG over the last ten games) will get open looks. Kon Knueppel is averaging 22.5 points per game in the last ten. The Bulls cannot guard this many weapons.

The season feels over in Chicago. The team is 24-34 and nineteen games out of the playoffs. The organization seems to have accepted the loss. The energy is gone. The Hornets, by contrast, are 27-31 and still fighting for playoff position. This game will feel like a team with everything to play for facing a team with nothing left to lose.

• Charlotte will control the game from the opening tip. The first quarter will set the tone with a likely 30-18 Hornets lead after twelve minutes.
• Chicago's defense is bottom-third in the league (117.2 defensive rating). Brandon Miller and the Hornets' perimeter players will punish this weakness repeatedly.
• The road-home split is stark. Charlotte is 4-0 away in their last ten games. Chicago is 0-4 at home in theirs. Road confidence meets home court collapse.
• Turnovers will determine blowout margin. Chicago gives it away 17.3 times per game lately. Charlotte protects the ball at 14.7 times per game. Sloppy play favors the Hornets.
• Nikola Vučević will keep Chicago close early with his reliable scoring (50.5 FG%, 16.9 PPG). But his pick-and-roll work will not be enough once the Hornets' defense locks in.
• Coby White will score 20+ for the Bulls as a consolation prize. He is their only bright spot (20.0 PPG in the last ten), but one hot player cannot carry a broken team.

• Charlotte Hornets -6.0 (Primary Pick). This is a blowout candidate game. The talent gap is too wide, and Chicago's defense cannot contain Charlotte's stars. Expect a 15 to 20-point final margin. Six points is safe padding.
• Charlotte Hornets -303 Moneyline (High Confidence). The juice is heavy at 75% implied probability, but it is justified. If Charlotte wins by 15 or more, the moneyline is the cleaner bet. No need to sweat a six-point cover.
• Season series edge. Charlotte is 2-1 against Chicago this season and won the most recent matchup 123-116. That is not luck. That is skill and talent advantage.
• Turnover margin matters here. Chicago is averaging 17.3 giveaways per game in recent play. That is a gift. A plus-4 or plus-5 turnover advantage would be typical for Charlotte and adds two to three possessions per game.
• LaMelo Ball is heating up at the right time (21.1 PPG in the last ten, up 1.7 from his season average). He will thrive against a defense ranked 25th in the league. Watch for him to find his rhythm early.
• Coby White bounce-back risk (20.0 PPG last ten) is not enough to change the outcome. One player cannot keep Chicago within a number this large against a superior team.

The best angle is simple: Hornets -6.0 on the spread. This covers the blowout scenario with room to spare. If you prefer to lower risk even more, the -303 moneyline is justified, though the juice is steep. The spread offers better value and psychological comfort if Chicago fails to get blown out by the full predicted margin. The talent mismatch is too obvious for this to be close.

One caveat: The Bulls have nothing to lose after nine straight losses and might play with desperation and early freedom. Coby White could have a strong game. Nikola Vučević is reliable at 50.5% from the field. If Chicago avoids the turnover mistakes early, they could stay within eight points at halftime. But do not expect a Bulls comeback. The Hornets' defense will tighten, and the margin will balloon to 15 or 20 by the fourth quarter. This game is about when the blowout happens, not if it happens.