Chicago @ Charlotte preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2018 ) Chicago 106, Charlotte 135

The Charlotte Hornets look to reach the .500 mark for the first time since Dec. 31 when they host the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. The Hornets have won six of their past nine contests after recording a 100-92 home victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Charlotte started slowly and trailed the Grizzlies by 12 points after one quarter but recovered well and outscored Memphis 30-19 in the fourth to land the victory. "We thought we could just go through the motions and they would miss shots," Hornets coach James Borrego told reporters after the triumph. "We didn't come out with the right spirit but over the course of time, we figured out how to get this done." The Bulls delivered a solid 105-89 road victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday to win for only the second time in the past 16 games. Shooting guard Zach LaVine (ankle) could return Saturday after sitting out against Miami and he has topped 20 points in five of the his last six games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Southeast (Charlotte)

ABOUT THE BULLS (12-40): Forward Jabari Parker, who is averaging 14.3 points in 39 games, won't play Saturday after a death in the family. Parker was signed in the offseason but has proven not to be a fit and Chicago is shopping him with Thursday's trading deadline about to arrive. "I’ve never handled that before. I’ve never been in trade rumors," Parker told reporters of the trade speculation. "This is kind of the first time, so just trying to do good things in the mean time. It’s just part of the business. It’s nothing that I am bothered by. I understand a team needs you and a team doesn’t want you - that’s just how it goes.”

ABOUT THE HORNETS (25-26): Second-year shooting guard Malik Monk scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter against Memphis and is averaging 16.7 points over the past three games. "Malik was great, the second half especially," Borrego said afterward. "Just getting downhill and getting to the rim and knocking that shot down. He is getting more and more comfortable out there. He's looking really confident shooting the ball right now." All-Star point guard Kemba Walker scored 23 points against the Grizzlies and has topped 20 in eight of the past 10 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings earlier this season with the Hornets' win coming by 29 points.

2. Charlotte PG Tony Parker (ankle) returned from a one-game absence to contribute 15 points and seven assists on Friday.

3. Chicago officially waived F Carmelo Anthony on Friday and acquired swingman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot from the Oklahoma City Thunder for a second-round draft pick in 2020.

PREDICTION: Hornets 118, Bulls 95