The Chicago Bulls halted their slide with a 129-126 road win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, December 12, 2025, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Tip-off came shortly after 7:15 p.m. ET, and the night quickly turned into a high-efficiency shootout decided in the final seconds of the match timeline.
Chicago leaned on balanced scoring and repeated pressure at the rim, while Charlotte countered with heavy three-point volume and big nights from Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges.
In the end, the Bulls survived a last-gasp Hornets push, closing with timely free throws and just enough defense to escape.
- Bulls snapped a skid with a three-point win.
- The game was played at a fast, offense-first pace.
- Both teams had multiple players in double figures.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets |
| Venue | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC |
| Date | Friday, December 12, 2025 |
| Final | Bulls 129, Hornets 126 |
How the timeline unfolded
Chicago set an early tone, opening the scoring and repeatedly getting downhill to build a small first-quarter cushion.
Charlotte stayed attached behind Knueppel’s early scoring, then began to find rhythm from deep as the quarter progressed.
The Bulls carried a 33-29 lead after one, but the second quarter flipped the game as the Hornets’ perimeter shooting and ball movement surged.
Bridges heated up in the second, and Knueppel kept stacking points with jumpers and free throws as Charlotte pushed in front by the break.
Charlotte led 61-55 at halftime, with the Hornets’ outside shot-making standing out against Chicago’s steadier interior efficiency.
The third quarter became a tug-of-war, with Chicago answering through Josh Giddey’s playmaking and Nikola Vučević’s finishing, while Charlotte continued to generate clean looks from distance.
Despite the Bulls’ push, the Hornets still held a 92-89 edge heading to the fourth.
In the final period, the Bulls steadily chipped away, and Isaac Okoro delivered key baskets and a crucial putback as Chicago regained control in the closing minutes.
The final 40 seconds turned frantic, with Bridges attacking the lane and Giddey responding for Chicago, before Coby White sealed crucial points at the line late.
Knueppel made it a one-possession finish at the horn with a putback as time expired, but the Bulls had already built just enough margin to hold on.
- Chicago won the first quarter, then had to respond after halftime.
- Charlotte’s biggest swing came in the second quarter.
- The Bulls’ late free throws and timely finishes decided it.
| Quarter | CHI | CHA |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 33 | 29 |
| Q2 | 22 | 32 |
| Q3 | 34 | 31 |
| Q4 | 40 | 34 |
| Final | 129 | 126 |
| Game segment | Score snapshot | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| End of Q1 | CHI 33, CHA 29 | Bulls started sharp, Hornets stabilized with early scoring. |
| Halftime | CHA 61, CHI 55 | Charlotte’s threes and pace tilted the game. |
| End of Q3 | CHA 92, CHI 89 | Back-and-forth quarter, neither side separated. |
| Final | CHI 129, CHA 126 | Bulls executed late, Hornets’ last push fell short. |
Standout performers
Giddey led the Bulls with 26 points and 11 assists, repeatedly creating advantages in the half-court and in early offense.
White added 20 points, mixing drives with timely free throws in the final moments to keep Chicago in front.
Okoro chipped in 15 points in 26 minutes, providing efficient finishing and a key late stretch that helped swing the fourth quarter.
Zach Collins supplied 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting and finished plus-17, giving Chicago a major lift in his minutes.
For Charlotte, Knueppel posted 33 points and nine assists, combining five made threes with consistent creation as the Hornets’ offensive engine.
Bridges matched the punch with 32 points on 13-of-20 shooting, hitting four threes and repeatedly attacking gaps as the game tightened.
Brandon Miller finished with 18 points and two blocks, but Charlotte’s late comeback required near-perfect execution that ultimately came up one score short.
- Giddey controlled tempo and created easy looks.
- Knueppel and Bridges produced elite scoring volume for Charlotte.
- Bench impact favored Chicago in key stretches.
| Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Giddey | CHI | 26 | 7 | 11 | Primary creator, steady late. |
| Coby White | CHI | 20 | 5 | 2 | Big free throws in the final minute. |
| Zach Collins | CHI | 16 | 8 | 2 | Hyper-efficient finishing, strong plus-minus. |
| Kon Knueppel | CHA | 33 | 5 | 9 | Five threes, playmaking load. |
| Miles Bridges | CHA | 32 | 2 | 7 | Scored at all three levels. |
By the numbers
Chicago shot 55.3% overall (52-of-94) and paired that efficiency with 19 trips to the free-throw line, converting 15.
Charlotte hit 16 threes on 43.2% shooting from deep (16-of-37), but the Hornets generated fewer free throws and fewer second chances.
The Bulls won the rebounding battle 44-32, including 11 offensive rebounds, which helped offset Charlotte’s three-point edge.
Charlotte narrowly led in assists at 30-29, but Chicago’s physicality on the glass and consistent rim pressure gave the visitors the last possessions they needed.
- Bulls’ rebounding advantage was decisive in a one-possession finish.
- Hornets’ three-point shooting kept them in control for long stretches.
- Free-throw volume favored Chicago in the closing minutes.
| Team | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 52-94 (55.3%) | 10-28 (35.7%) | 15-19 (78.9%) | 44 | 29 | 11 | 129 |
| CHA | 51-97 (52.6%) | 16-37 (43.2%) | 8-10 (80.0%) | 32 | 30 | 8 |