The Chicago Bulls are on a hot streak, winning six of their last eight games and looking to secure a season-series victory against the struggling Charlotte Hornets. The Bulls recently beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-113, while the Hornets fell to the Sacramento Kings 125-102. As the Bulls aim for a favorable position in the play-in game, they have been established as 9.5-point favorites in the matchup. The Hornets, sitting at the bottom of the Southeast Division with a dismal record, have lost seven of their last eight. Tip-off at Spectrum Center is set for 1 p.m. ET, with an over/under of 227.5 points.

The key factors for the Bulls include Coby White's impressive performances, averaging 20.4 points, alongside Nikola Vucevic's double-double contributions. Conversely, the Hornets look towards Miles Bridges, who is also in fine form, and Mark Williams, whose status is uncertain due to a back injury. Betting insights suggest a lean towards the under, with the SportsLine model projecting a total of 221 points.