Bulls Face Hornets in Critical Eastern Conference Showdown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Chicago Bulls are aiming to solidify their playoff position when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET at Spectrum Center. Chicago enters the game coming off a momentum-building 118-113 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. In contrast, Charlotte suffered a disappointing 125-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks that same evening.

The Bulls hold a record of 35-42 and are positioned for the play-in game, having won six of their last eight contests. The Hornets, however, sit at the bottom of the Southeast Division with a 19-58 overall record, struggling with only one win in their last eight games.

According to the latest odds from SportsLine, the Bulls are favored by 9.5 points, with the over/under for total points set at 229.5. The moneyline stands at -400 for the Bulls (risking $400 to win $100), while the Hornets are at +313 (risking $100 to win $313).

The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, has reported impressive returns of over $10,000 in profit for $100 players over the past six seasons. Currently, the model is on a run of 155-115 for all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, bringing in nearly $4,000, and it maintains a notable 68% success rate on top-rated spread bets this season.

Bulls’ point guard, who is recent form shows promise, scored 28 points in a 137-118 win against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, followed by a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 29. For the season, he averages 20.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds.

Chicago’s veteran center has also made significant contributions, recording a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the recent game versus Toronto. He averages 18.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while playing just over 31 minutes per game this season.

On the hornets’ side, a center dealing with a back issue has become a game-time decision. Despite his pain, he has consistently posted double-doubles over the past fortnight, averaging 15.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks this season.

As the matchup approaches, SportsLine’s model favors the Under, projecting a combined total of 221 points and identifying a side of the spread that hits well over 60% of the time in simulations. Fans and bettors alike will be eager to see the outcome as the Bulls strive for a vital win on the road while the Hornets seek any glimmer of success to conclude their challenging season.