Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls Final Score & Over/Under Result — Jan 3, 2026

The market total of 241.5 looked bloated from the opening tipoff. Charlotte and Chicago combined for 66 points in the first quarter—a brisk pace that still landed well short of the half's closing line, and by halftime the combined 108 points had already signaled a path toward an under. The second half delivered even more restraint: just 103 combined points across the final 24 minutes, with Q3 yielding only 49 combined and Q4 adding 54, sending the game to a 211 final—30.5 points under the number and a clean cash for those leaning under.

Charlotte's offensive balance powered the win. Miles Bridges led with 26 points and 14 rebounds, Brandon Miller contributed 22 points and 4 assists, and Kon Knueppel added 18 points off the bench as the Hornets closed out 112-99. On the other side, Nikola Vučević's 28 points and 8 assists kept Chicago competitive early; Matas Buzelis chipped in 17 points and 8 rebounds, and Ayo Dosunmu posted 16 points and 4 assists. But once the second half began, the Bulls' offense stalled—they managed just 41 combined points in the final 24 minutes against Charlotte's 62.

This marks a significant departure from the season series pattern. The previous two matchups between these teams posted 255 and 239 combined points, respectively. DAGGER leaned under, and it cashed decisively, as both teams' recent offensive form (averaging around 120 per game) collided with a defensive grind that neither squad could overcome.