The Chicago Bulls achieved a 117-110 victory over Charlotte during Wednesday’s NBA action, extending the Hornets’ losing streak to five games. Coby White led with 35 points, while Nikola Vucevic contributed a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu added 16 points.
White’s performance significantly improved from his previous game, where he was held to 13 points in a loss to the Toronto Raptors. This time, he shot 12-22 from the field, with four made 3-pointers, and added nine assists and seven rebounds.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan praised White for his ability to reflect and adjust his game quickly, noting his aggressive play and positive impact on the team.
“I personally don’t think he was happy the way he played (Tuesday) night,” Donovan said. “And that’s the one thing I admire and respect about him is he’s very introspective. He can course correct pretty quickly. … He was really aggressive, he got downhill and did a lot of really good things and opened up things for himself and our team.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Coby White, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets Updates
White admitted he aimed for a more assertive approach in the game against Charlotte, seeking redemption for his less-than-satisfactory performance the night before.
“Obviously, I wanted to come out and be more aggressive than I was (Tuesday) night,” White said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Coby White, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets Updates
This marked White’s second impressive showing in Charlotte within the month, having previously scored 27 points against the Hornets on January 6. He’s continued his impressive season, averaging a career-high 19.0 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. His scoring average has jumped by 9.3 points per game, nearly doubling his average of 9.7 points last season.
Miles Bridges highlighted the challenge of containing White and his synergy with Vucevic, acknowledging that a few critical stops against White could have swayed the Hornets’ favor.
“We couldn’t stop Coby White,” Bridges said. “Coby White, Vuc (Nikola Vucevic), they had a good two-man connection going. We couldn’t stop Coby in the clutch. If we got like three stops on Coby, we win the game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Coby White, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Charlotte’s struggles were compounded by the absence of key players and the recent trade of Terry Rozier. Despite contributions from P.J. Washington and Brandon Miller, the team’s record fell to 10-36. The game remained competitive until the Bulls pulled away in the fourth quarter, partly due to White’s clutch performance and Andre Drummond’s contributions off the bench.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford expressed frustration with the team’s defensive efforts, particularly in handling pick-and-roll situations.
“We couldn’t guard,” Clifford said. “They were just in the paint every pick and roll. … We’ve been having problems just because our principles are bad and stuff. But those guys are terrific offensive players. They played well, and sometimes that happens.”
The Bulls look forward to hosting the Sacramento Kings next, while the Hornets face an away game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
