Hornets Vs Bulls: Charlotte’s Road Momentum Peaks with Record 8th Straight Away Win as Chicago’s Slide Deepens
Why this matters now: in the hornets vs bulls matchup, Charlotte’s road form just became a defining team characteristic — an eighth straight road win is a new franchise record and a tangible momentum shift. At the same time Chicago’s losing streak reached 10 games, matching its longest slide since January 2019. That dual swing changes short-term expectations for both clubs.
Hornets Vs Bulls — what the streak rewrites about Charlotte’s trajectory
Here’s the part that matters: a string of road victories like this alters how opponents prepare and how the Hornets view themselves. Charlotte’s 131-99 victory in Chicago set a new benchmark — the team recorded its eighth straight road win — and did so behind high-efficiency offense that will influence rotations and matchup planning going forward. The Bulls, meanwhile, have now lost 10 straight games, a run that matches a low-water mark not seen since January 2019.
Game flow: the decisive third quarter and the run that closed the door
Charlotte turned the contest in the third quarter, outscoring Chicago 42-16. The swing included a decisive 22-2 run that put the Hornets firmly in control; Kon Knueppel hit back-to-back 3s midway through the quarter as he scored 10 straight points to give Charlotte a 14-point lead. Brandon Miller then hit his next three shots, including one of his five 3-pointers, to push the score to 88-65 and cap the sequence. Earlier, Charlotte trailed by nine midway through the second quarter but led 56-55 at the half.
Standout numbers and player lines
Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 23 points while Kon Knueppel added 21. LaMelo Ball scored 16 points and Miles Bridges also had 16 in his return from a suspension. Knueppel finished with three 3-pointers on six attempts, increasing his long-range total to 201; playing in his 58th game, he became the fastest player to reach 200 3-pointers. On Chicago’s side, Matas Buzelis scored a career-high 32 points. The Bulls were hampered by 19 turnovers. Patrick Williams and Guerschon Yabusele each contributed 11 points.
Lineup changes, returns and a notable debut
Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate were both back in the starting lineup after sitting out four games for their roles in a fight against Detroit on Feb. 9. Coby White made his Hornets debut against the team that traded him at the deadline earlier this month, entering midway through the first quarter and finishing with 10 points in 15: 33. He received a short video tribute in Chicago, where he played six and a half seasons.
- Charlotte shot 51. 6% from the field and sank 25 of 57 3-point attempts, one shy of the team record.
- The final score was 131-99 in Chicago; the Bulls’ defeat extended their losing streak to 10 games.
- Knueppel’s 201 career 3s and fastest-to-200 mark arrived in his 58th game; Miller finished with five 3-pointers included in his 23 points.
- Chicago’s 19 turnovers amplified the margin despite Matas Buzelis’s career-high 32 points.
What’s easy to miss is how concentrated the third-quarter outburst was: 42 points in a single period, including that 22-2 run, created a deficit that Chicago never recovered from. The real question now is how sustainable Charlotte’s road surge will be and whether Chicago can break a slide that echoes past struggles from January 2019.
Micro timeline: Bridges and Diabate had missed four games after Feb. 9; the Hornets trailed by nine in the second quarter but led 56-55 at halftime; the third-quarter 42-16 edge sealed the outcome. Recent results indicate these dynamics could evolve, and both teams will be judged by how they respond in their next outings.
(image not provided)
