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Photos: Charlotte Hornets 112, Chicago Bulls 99

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Photos from the Chicago Bulls’ 112-99 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center.

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) walks off the court after a loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) walks off the court after a 112-99 loss to the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) walks off the court after a loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) walks off the court after a loss to the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Bulls center Nikola Vučević argues with a referee in the second half against the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls center Nikola Vučević argues with a referee in the second half against the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives on Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives on the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) puts up a shot over Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) puts up a shot over Hornets forward Miles Bridges in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Julian Phillips (15) fights for a rebound with Charlotte Hornets guards Josh Green (10) and Sion James (4) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Julian Phillips fights for a rebound with Hornets guards Josh Green (10) and Sion James in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) has his layup attempt blocked by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) has his layup attempt blocked by Hornets guard Josh Green, right, in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) shoots over Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets forward Brandon Miller shoots over Bulls forward Matas Buzelis in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter (13) argues with a referee in the second half of a game between the Bulls and the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter (13) argues with a referee in the second half against the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) runs into Chicago Bulls forward/guard Isaac Okoro (35) as Okoro grabs a rebound in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Isaac Okoro as Okoro grabs a rebound over the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) walks on back to the bench to start a timeout in the second half of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) walks on back to the bench during a timeout in the second half against the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) scores while being fouled in the second half of a game against guard Tre Jones (30), forward Dalen Terry (7), and the Chicago Bulls, at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) scores while being fouled in the second half against Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) and forward Dalen Terry on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) and Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) battle for a loose ball in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) and Bulls forward Patrick Williams battle for a loose ball in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets forward Brandon Miller celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the second half against the Bulls on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) hits a shot at the buzzer to end the first quarter of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) hits a shot at the first-quarter buzzer against the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives on Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives against Bulls center Nikola Vučević in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) drives on Charlotte Hornets guard Lamelo Ball (1) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) drives against Hornets guard Lamelo Ball in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) drives to the hoop in the first half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Hornets’ Kon Knueppel (7) drives to the basket in the first half against the Bulls on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets guard Lamelo Ball (1) drives on Chicago Bulls forward/guard Isaac Okoro (35) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets guard Lamelo Ball (1) drives around Bulls forward Isaac Okoro in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) tries to score from nearly full court to end the third quarter of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) tries to score from nearly full court to end the third quarter against the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) lays on the ground as he passes the ball by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls center Nikola Vučević (9) lies on the ground as he passes the ball past Hornets guard Josh Green in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Julian Phillips and Hornets guard Collin Sexton battle for a loose ball in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Julian Phillips and Hornets guard Collin Sexton battle for a loose ball in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the second half against the Bulls on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) tries to pass the ball by Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) and guard/forward Kevin Huerter (13) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets guard Sion James (4) tries to pass the ball past Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) and Kevin Huerter in the second half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan argues with a referee in the second half of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls coach Billy Donovan argues with a referee in the second half against the Hornets on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives on Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) in the second half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives against the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel in the second half on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks on Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks on Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks on Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks on Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) tries to block the layup attempt of Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) tries to block a layup attempt from Hornets forward Miles Bridges in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) tries to intercept a pass from Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) as Knueppel falls out of bounds in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) tries to intercept a pass from Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel as Knueppel falls out of bounds in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets guard Lamelo Ball (1) and Chicago Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter (13) battle for a rebound in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets guard Lamelo Ball (1) and Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter battle for a rebound in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives on Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith (25) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives against the Bulls’ Jalen Smith in the first half on Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives on Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives on Hornets guard Collin Sexton in the first half Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
People react before Benny the Bull throws t-shirts into the crowd in the first half of a game between the Chicago Bulls and the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Fans react before Benny the Bull throws T-shirts into the crowd in the first half of a Bulls-Hornets game Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)