Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets 2/9/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions

Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets Matchup Preview (2/9/22)

The Chicago Bulls will look to bounce back after a tough three-point home loss to the Phoenix Suns when they travel to Charlotte to challenge the Hornets in the Spectrum Center. Charlotte has dropped four straight games, three of which were home games. To make matters worse, Gordon Hayward just suffered a scary-looking injury to his leg. While it may not be a severe injury, it could keep him out for a little while.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are trying to get back on track after going 8-8 in January. Unfortunately, the Bulls have not started February out any better, as they have amassed a 2-3 record through the first seven days of the month. The absence of several key players throughout the season has created some inconsistency during certain stretches. Currently, they are without Lonzo Ball and Patrick Williams, who are two starters and key contributors. Still, Chicago has DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic to pick up the slack, so this should be a winnable game for the Bulls. Below, I go over different outcomes for this game as well as best bets, so check it out.

Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets Betting Odds

Charlotte’s recent offensive issues scare me a lot for this matchup. As I mention below, the Hornets have merely averaged 96 points in their past four games, which is almost 20 points fewer than where they usually land. The Bulls have an exploitable defense, but not near as exploitable as Charlotte’s defense. Additionally, Nikola Vucevic has a perfect matchup, too. Seeing as the Hornets have one of the worst defenses in the NBA against opposing bigs, Vucevic should have a massive night.

How To Watch

Date: 2/9/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC
Channel: ESPN

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Chicago Bulls Starting Lineup

PG: Ayo Dosunmu
SG: Zach LaVine
SF: DeMar DeRozan
PF: Javonte Green
C: Nikola Vucevic

Chicago Bulls Analysis

The Bulls are not far from being 100% healthy; they just returned Zach LaVine to the lineup and are now only missing Lonzo Ball and Patrick Williams. There is a real possibility that both of them return by the end of the regular season, and then anything can happen! Chicago lost a heartbreaker to the Phoenix Suns at home in its last game but still proved it could compete with the best, despite being short-handed. This should be an advantageous matchup for Chicago, considering the Charlotte Hornets are one of the worst teams in the NBA against opposing bigs. Nikola Vucevic should be in for a big game against Mason Plumlee. Still, when the Hornets’ perimeter players dig on him, he should be able to find an open LaVine and DeRozan, who have shot it tremendously well recently.

Charlotte Hornets Starting Lineup

PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Mason Plumlee

Charlotte Hornets Analysis

Charlotte is not a difficult team to figure out: it has one of the most high-powered offenses and one of the most exploitable defenses in the NBA. Surprisingly, it’s not the Hornets’ defense that has cost them several games recently, but their offense, which has led to a four-game losing streak, including losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Toronto Raptors. Charlotte has merely averaged 96 points per game during that span, which is substantially less than its usual 113 point average. This is a significant concern as the reason that Charlotte had success was how consistent it was on offense. If Charlotte gets hot offensively, then it certainly has an opportunity to secure a home win against a strong Bulls team; however, if these past four games have been any indication of the current state of the Hornets, then Chicago should easily win this matchup.

Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets Daily Fantasy Picks

There are two very viable players for your DFS lineup: Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Let’s start with DeRozan. He’s fresh off a massive 38-point night against a tough, suffocating Phoenix defense. Unfortunately, the Bulls lost that game; however, it was positive to see DeRozan take over and give them a chance to win late in the game. DeRozan finished the game with 38 points, five rebounds, and four assists. His efficiency has been mind-boggling in the past ten games, averaging over 32 points, six rebounds, and six assists on nearly 57% from the field. Even with Zach LaVine back in the lineup, DeRozan should continue this tear for the rest of the 2021-22 NBA season, and hopefully into the playoffs as well. That brings us to our next player to discuss: Zach LaVine. LaVine returned to the lineup after missing a few games and did not skip a beat, dropping 32 points, eight assists, and six rebounds against the Phoenix Suns. The Hornets allow the third-most points per game to opponents on the 26th best defensive efficiency in the league. Essentially, LaVine and DeRozan could very well pop off for 30+ points apiece once again. Despite their obvious, high salaries, these players have a fantastic matchup against the Hornets and should be considered in DFS.

So far, Kelly Oubre Jr has fit in incredibly well with this high-octane Hornets offense. Oubre has averaged just shy of 17 points while pulling down four rebounds per game on the season. He’s been even more terrific in his past four games, averaging 21 points and six rebounds, despite not drawing any starts. Oubre’s stats are even better when he gets a start, which may be the case for this game since Gordon Hayward suffered a leg injury in the Hornets’ last game. If he does, I love the idea of plugging him into the DFS lineup, as he should see increased minutes and volume. The Bulls’ defense has been average to below-average recently, so this should be a solid matchup opportunity for Oubre.