3rd quarter report
The Hawks are on the road but don’t look any worse. They have a bit of a lead as they currently lead the Bulls 94-80.
If the Hawks continue to play like this, they will reach their record of 21-19 in no time. On the other hand, the Bulls will have to settle for an 18-23 record unless they turn things around (and quickly).
Who’s playing
Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls
Current records: Atlanta 20-19, Chicago 18-22
How to watch
- When: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET
- Or: United Center – Chicago, IL
- TV: Chicago Sports Network
- Follow: CBS Sports app
- Online broadcast: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket cost: $21.00
What you need to know
The Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls will face off on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center without much rest after finishing games yesterday. The Hawks pulled off a surprise victory in their last outing and will hope to achieve that once again against the 2-point favorite Bulls.
The Hawks suffered a loss when they played away on Thursday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They managed a 122-117 victory against the Suns.
Several players had strong performances to lead the Hawks to victory, but perhaps none more than Trae Young, who had 43 points plus five assists and three steals. Onyeka Okongwu was another key player, posting a double-double with 22 points and 21 rebounds.
The Hawks broke the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds. They easily outscored their opponents in this department as the Suns only knocked out six.
Meanwhile, the point spread may have favored the Bulls on Tuesday, but the final result didn’t. They suffered a 119-113 hit in the loss column at the hands of the Pelicans. Chicago has now taken an “L” in consecutive games.
Despite their defeat, the Bulls saw several players rise to the challenge and make remarkable plays. Nikola Vucevic, author of a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds, was perhaps the best of all. Additionally, Vucevic also racked up seven offensive rebounds, his most since February 2024.
Atlanta pushed its record to 20-19 with the win, which was its fourth straight at home. As for Chicago, their loss dropped their record to 18-22.
The Hawks beat the Bulls 141-133 in their previous meeting in December 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Hawks since the team won’t have home-court advantage this time around. We’ll see if the change of location makes a difference.
Odds
Chicago is a slight favorite with 2 points against Atlanta, according to the latest NBA Odds.
Oddsmakers had a good idea of the line for this one, as the game opened with the Bulls as 2.5-point favorites.
Oddsmakers are expecting fireworks from the offense and have pegged the over/under at a high of 244 points.
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History of the series
Chicago has won 7 of its last 10 games against Atlanta.
- December 26, 2024 – Atlanta 141 against. Chicago 133
- November 22, 2024 – Chicago 136 against. Atlanta 122
- November 9, 2024 – Chicago 125 vs. Atlanta 113
- April 17, 2024 – Chicago 131 vs. Atlanta 116
- April 1, 2024 – Atlanta 113 against. Chicago 101
- February 12, 2024 – Chicago 136 against. Atlanta 126
- December 26, 2023 – Chicago 118 against. Atlanta 113
- April 4, 2023 – Atlanta 123 vs. Chicago 105
- January 23, 2023 – Chicago 111 vs. Atlanta 100
- December 21, 2022 – Chicago 110 vs. Atlanta 108
