Bash is fading the public consensus on this short line. Find out why his latest NBA prediction for Bulls vs. Hornets suggests you should confidently lay the number with Chicago.
The Setup: Bulls at Hornets
The Bulls are laying just 2.5 points against a Hornets team that’s 4-14 and riding a seven-game losing streak? Charlotte just got demolished by the Knicks 129-101, and now Vegas wants me to believe they’re only a field goal underdog at home? The market’s disrespecting Chicago here, and I’m not buying the narrative that the Hornets’ home court means anything when they’re 3-6 at the Spectrum Center.
Chicago comes in at 9-8, and while they just got torched by the Pelicans 143-130, let’s talk about what really matters: the Bulls are getting healthy contributions from their core trio. Coby White is averaging 24.0 points per game, Josh Giddey is flirting with a triple-double every night at 20.5/9.9/9.5, and Nikola Vucevic continues to be a steady force at 16.7 and 9.6 boards. The Hornets counter with Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball, but that 4-14 record tells you everything about their ability to close games.
The books are begging you to take Charlotte getting points at home, banking on casual bettors seeing a small spread and thinking they’re getting value. I’ve seen this movie before, and it doesn’t end well for teams on seven-game skids. Sharp money knows what’s up here – this number should be closer to 5 or 6.
Game Info & Betting Lines
Game Time: November 28, 2025, 7:30 ET
Location: Spectrum Center
Spread: Bulls -2.5 (-110) / Hornets +2.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Bulls -139 / Hornets +113
Total: 248.0 (Over/Under -110)
Why This Line Exists (Market Psychology)
Vegas is playing psychological warfare with this tight spread, and I’m here to tell you why. The Hornets are 4-14 overall and 1-8 on the road, but they’re 3-6 at home – just enough to make bettors think there’s something there. The books know casual money sees a struggling home team getting points and thinks it’s a gift.
Look at the moneyline: Bulls -139, Hornets +113. That’s telling you the market expects Chicago to win straight up, but they’re keeping the spread tight to balance action. The total sitting at 248.0 is the real tell here – Vegas expects points, which makes sense when you’ve got Coby White dropping 24 a night and LaMelo Ball capable of going nuclear for 20-plus.
Here’s what the line is really saying: Chicago should win this game, but the market’s afraid of the Bulls’ 3-6 road record. That road split is legitimate concern – they’re a completely different team away from home at 6-2 versus 3-6. But Charlotte is 3-6 at home and just got boat-raced by the Knicks, losing by 28 points. The public’s all over Charlotte getting points, which means the sharp play is fading that narrative and backing the better team laying the short number.
The injury situation tilts this further. Chicago’s questionable players – Okoro (doubtful), Terry (questionable), and Huerter (questionable) – aren’t their primary contributors. Meanwhile, Charlotte is missing Josh Green and Grant Williams indefinitely. This is exactly the spot where the Hornets burn you – they look live on paper, then fold in the fourth quarter because they don’t have the depth or defensive discipline to close.
Bulls Breakdown: What You Need to Know
Chicago’s offense runs through a balanced three-headed attack that’s been productive all season. Coby White’s 24.0 points per game leads the way, but he’s not doing it alone – he’s facilitating at 6.8 assists per game, creating opportunities for others. Josh Giddey is the real story here, averaging 20.5/9.9/9.5 and serving as the point-forward orchestrating everything. When you add Vucevic’s 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds, you’ve got three legitimate scoring threats that can exploit Charlotte’s porous defense.
The concern is that road record – 3-6 away from home is ugly, and they just got torched in New Orleans. But context matters: the Pelicans were desperate, playing their first game under interim coach James Borrego after a nine-game losing streak. That was an emotional, high-intensity spot for New Orleans with Zion going off for 29. This is a different situation entirely.
The Bulls’ depth takes a potential hit with injury questions around Okoro, Terry, and Huerter, but none of those guys are in the top-three scoring rotation. White, Giddey, and Vucevic are healthy and producing, and that’s what matters against a Hornets team that can’t defend consistently. Chicago needs to push pace and attack Charlotte’s weaknesses in transition – if they do that, this spread is a joke.
Hornets Breakdown: The Other Side
Charlotte’s 4-14 record isn’t an accident – this is a team with offensive talent but zero defensive identity. Miles Bridges at 21.7 points and LaMelo Ball at 20.3 give them scoring punch, and Kon Knueppel adding 18.6 points provides a third option. But when you’re on a seven-game losing streak and just lost by 28 to the Knicks at home, the problem isn’t offense – it’s everything else.
The Hornets are 3-6 at home, which means the Spectrum Center provides no real advantage. They’re 1-8 on the road, so they’re bad everywhere, just slightly less bad at home. LaMelo can get hot and drop 30 on any given night, but he’s also prone to disappearing when the defense tightens up. Bridges is their most consistent player, but he can’t carry this team alone.
The injury situation compounds their problems. Josh Green and Grant Williams are out indefinitely, and while they’re not superstars, depth matters over 48 minutes. Pat Connaughton is also out for this game, further thinning their rotation. When you’re already 4-14 and struggling to compete, losing rotation players makes it exponentially harder to stay in games late.
Charlotte’s biggest issue is they can’t string together stops. They’ll score in bunches, then give up a 12-2 run because they can’t get defensive rebounds or contain penetration. Against a Bulls team with three guys who can create their own shot, that’s a recipe for another loss.
The Matchup: Where This Game Gets Decided
This game comes down to one simple question: can Charlotte defend well enough to stay within a possession? The answer, based on everything we’ve seen, is no. The Bulls have three players averaging between 16.7 and 24.0 points per game, all capable of taking over stretches. The Hornets have similar offensive firepower with Bridges, Ball, and Knueppel, but their defense is what separates these teams.
Chicago’s 3-6 road record is the elephant in the room, but this is a favorable spot. They’re facing a team on a seven-game slide that just got embarrassed at home by 28 points. The Hornets are 3-6 at the Spectrum Center, so there’s no real home-court mystique to worry about. The Bulls should be able to impose their will with Giddey orchestrating the offense and Vucevic controlling the paint.
The total at 248.0 suggests Vegas expects an up-tempo game with limited defense, which makes sense given both teams’ profiles. But here’s the thing – even in a shootout, I trust Chicago’s veteran presence and balanced attack more than Charlotte’s boom-or-bust approach. LaMelo can go off, but he can also shoot 6-for-20 and turn it over five times. Bridges is steady, but he’s not winning you games by himself.
The key for Chicago is simple: take care of the ball, attack the paint with Vucevic and Giddey, and let White create in pick-and-roll situations. If they execute their half-court offense and don’t beat themselves with turnovers, the Hornets don’t have the defensive personnel to stop them consistently. Charlotte needs to win this game in transition and force tempo, but the Bulls are comfortable playing fast with Giddey pushing the pace.
Bash’s Best Bet & The Play
The Play: Bulls -2.5 (-110)
Confidence: 4/5 Units
I’m hammering this number before it moves. The Bulls at -2.5 against a seven-game losing streak team is a gift, plain and simple. Yes, Chicago is 3-6 on the road, but they’re facing a Hornets squad that’s 4-14 overall and just got destroyed at home. The injury situation favors Chicago, the talent favors Chicago, and the matchup dynamics favor Chicago.
Charlotte’s only path to covering is if LaMelo and Bridges both go supernova and the Bulls shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers. That’s possible, but it’s not probable enough to scare me off this number. The market’s disrespecting Chicago here because of that road record, but context matters – this is a favorable spot against inferior competition.
The total at 248.0 is tempting for the over, but I’m staying disciplined and focusing on the side. Bulls -2.5 is the play, and I expect them to win this game by 6-10 points. Vegas knows something we don’t, but I’m not buying it. This line’s a trap designed to get money on Charlotte, and I’m fading the public all day long. Bulls cover, and it’s not close in the fourth quarter.
