The Chicago Bulls got a much-needed day off on Tuesday, as the team was coming off of back-to-back losses against the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns in consecutive days. Now, DeMar DeRozan and Co. will look to get back on track with a win over LaMelo Ball’s Charlotte Hornets.
Will Chicago come away with the win at the Spectrum Center? Keep reading our Bulls vs. Hornets picks and predictions to find out.
Bulls vs Hornets odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Bulls were laying 2.5 when this line first opened and the team is now favored by roughly 1.5 points across most sportsbooks — with Chicago also taking a majority of the bets. The total has changed pretty dramatically, with the number starting at 233 and now being as high as 236.5 or 237.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Bulls vs Hornets predictions
- Prediction: Bulls -1.5 (-110)
- Prediction: Over 236.5 (-110)
- Best bet: DeRozan Over 6.5 assists (+116)
Predictions made on 2/9/2022 at 10:20 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Bulls vs Hornets game info
• Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
• Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
Bulls vs Hornets betting preview
Key injuries
Bulls: Ayo Dosunmu G (Out), Derrick Jones Jr. F (Out), Alex Caruso G (Out), Lonzo Ball G (Out), Patrick Williams F (Out).
Hornets: Jalen McDaniels F (Out), Cody Martin F (Out), James Bouknight G (Doubtful), Gordon Hayward F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Bulls are 35-17-1 against the spread in their last 53 games as favorites. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Hornets.
Bulls vs Hornets picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
The Bulls are coming off a pair of tough losses earlier in the week, but they should feel pretty good about getting back into the win column tonight. Chicago got Zach LaVine back against the Suns and the guard looked pretty healthy. Sure, the Bulls would love to have guys like Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and Patrick Williams back in the mix, but having the team’s two All-Stars is a start. And that’s especially important considering the Hornets are going to be without Gordon Hayward for a while.
Look for the Bulls’ backcourt to light it up, as the Hornets don’t have the necessary perimeter defenders to keep those two in check. Meanwhile, Nikola Vucevic could also dominate the paint Chicago. It’s been an up-and-down year for the Bulls center, but the Hornets are rather weak on the interior. That’s one place where Charlotte is really looking for help before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, and Vucevic is going to take advantage. He has a massive body and great touch around the basket, and he can also step outside to hit jumpers.
Defensively, both teams will be in for a tough night, as this should end up being a high-scoring affair. Whichever team can continue to come up with timely buckets will emerge as the winner, and it’s easier to trust Chicago in that situation. LaVine is one of the best shooting guards in the league and DeRozan is the guy you’ll want on your side if this thing is close in crunch time with his elite presence at the foul line.
Prediction: Bulls -1.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The Bulls and Hornets are both in the Bottom 10 in defensive rating on the season, and the Bulls are actually just 27th in the league in that metric over their last 10 games. These teams can’t be relied upon to consistently get stops, and both teams have a ton of talent on the offensive end. With that in mind, you should expect fireworks — even if the total is a bit higher than you might be comfortable playing.
The Over is actually 15-4 when Chicago has played with a total higher than 220 points this season, and the average points scored in those contests is 236.1. The Over is also 14-5 when the Bulls are coming off a loss.
It’s also worth noting that the Over is 10-5 when the Hornets are coming off a loss by 10 or more points this season and Charlotte got blasted 116-101 by the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
Prediction: Over 236.5 (-110)
Best bet
Missing Ball, Caruso, and Ayo Dosunmu, the Bulls are running out of guys who can make plays. Coby White is the only player in tonight’s rotation with a background at the point guard position, but he’s more of a scorer than a pure passer. With that in mind, DeRozan is going to be the one Chicago counts on to initiate the offense.
DeRozan is averaging just 5.1 assists per game this season, but he has had seven or more dimes in 12 of his last 18 games. He is fully capable of going out there and setting others up. Otherwise, the Bulls might rely a little too heavily on iso-ball.
Pick: DeMar DeRozan Over 6.5 assists (+116)
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