Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls, Picks, Prediction, Odds and Line Movement for Saturday, January 3, 2025
We have an Eastern Conference matchup on the first Saturday of 2026 in this Hornets vs. Bulls prediction. Both teams played on Friday night, so this matchup was written before those results. Chicago (16-17) sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, while Charlotte (11-22) is in 12th place. This will be their third meeting, with the Bulls winning the last matchup 129-126 on Dec. 12 as a 3-point favorite from Charlotte. The Bulls will be the home team on Saturday night at 8pmET. Check out more free NBA picks and NFL predictions on Winners and Whiners.
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Hornets expected to get Bridges back
Like many NBA teams, Charlotte has been bitten by the injury bug. In their last game of the year on Dec. 31, they fell at home to Golden State 132-125. Braxton Miller, who has played in 17 of their 33 games due to injuries, led the way with 33 points. Rookie Kon Knueppel added 20 points and eight assists and also had just missed a game due to an ankle injury. If Miller, LaMelo Ball, Kneuppel, and Miles Bridges (ankle) can stay on the floor together, the Hornets can be a playoff team, but that's asking a lot.
Bridges last played on Dec. 29 and was on the court for just seven minutes after turning his ankle. He's expected to return for Friday's contest. Bridges averages 19.9 points and 6.2 rebounds (3.8apg). He's second behind Ball, who averages 20.3 points and 8.3 assists, while Kneuppel adds 19.3 points and 5.1 rebounds, while shooting 43.2% from long range.
Charlotte is ranked 23rd by Adjusted Net Rating by DunksandThrees.com, while ranking 19th in Adjusted Offense and 27th in Adjusted Defense.
Key Injury Report for Hornets
- C Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) is doubtful. Avg. 8.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.8bpg
- F Moussa Diabate (wrist) is questionable. Avg. 7.9ppg and 8.1rpg.
Bulls looking for healthy bodies
Before Friday's results, Chicago had been playing solid basketball. They had won four straight, including two on the road against Atlanta, before losing two straight at home to Milwaukee and Minnesota. The Bulls ended 2025 with a 134-118 win over New Orleans on Dec. 31. In the win over the Pelicans, forward Isaac Okoro led the way with 24 points, while veteran guard Tre Jones scored 29 points and dished out 12 assists.
Head coach Billy Donovan has had to be creative with his lineups, dealing with multiple injuries to key players. It starts with point guard Josh Giddey, who has a hamstring injury and is out another two weeks. Giddey (19.2ppg, 8.9rpg, 9apg) last played on Dec. 29, playing just 18 minutes. Guard Coby White (19.2ppg, 4.7apg) has been dealing with calf tightness and also played limited minutes against Minnesota (7). He's out for the next week or two.
With Giddey and White out, Chicago has to lean on C Nikola Vucevic (16.1ppg, 8.9rpg), F Matas Buzelis (14.1ppg, 5.2rpg) and Jones (12.4ppg, 5.2apg, 3.9asst/to). DunksandThrees.com has the Bulls ranked 24th in Adjusted Net, 24th in Adjusted Offense and 25th in Adjusted Defense.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tony Karpinski | +2,976.00 |
| 2 |  Joe Duffy | +2,595.00 |
| 3 |  The Insiders Room | +2,320.00 |
| 4 |  Mark Ruelle | +1,627.00 |
| 5 |  Jackie Mack | +1,451.00 |
Key Injury Report for Bulls:
- G Josh Giddey (calf) is out 2-3 weeks. Point guard averaging nearly a triple-double
- G Coby White (calf) is out 1-2 weeks. High-scoring shooting guard.
- C Zach Collins (toe) is out 1-2 weeks. Backup center.
Spread Pick and Odds for Hornets vs. Bulls
Hornets vs. Bulls Prediction and Pick
- Charlotte to cover (4 units)
I like the fact that Bridges, Miller, Ball and Kneuppel are all expected to be on the floor. In today's NBA, you never know but even if Bridges doesn't play in the second of a back-to-back, we know that Giddey and White are out for the Bulls. Both teams are pretty even, but Giddey is similar to Ball as a big point guard who can do so many things and Tre Jones is more of a steady guard who doesn't turn it over a lot. Knueppel has been one of the top rookies in the league this season, just winning Co-Rookie of the Month in December with his former teammate at Duke, Cooper Flagg. That's how good Kneupple is and he's more than just a three-point shooter.
- Over (4 units)
Chicago loves to push the pace (2nd in Adjusted tempo) and they should have that opportunity at home. With Braxton Miller finishing and Ball pushing the pace, the Hornets are much more explosive than their listed tempo of 24. Defensively, neither team is great. Charlotte has gone over in two straight before Friday. These teams have gone over in three of their last four meetings.
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