November 12, 2026 at 5:09 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisHawks Look to Bounce Back Against a Desperate, Thinned-Out Bulls Team
Atlanta has the stronger record, but Chicago is showing small signs of life.
This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.
The Bulls are 1-8 and have lost seven straight under first-year coach Tiago Splitter, so every game now carries real urgency. The schedule has been tough, but the bigger concern is an offense that may be without its leading scorer. Norman Powell, who averages 19.3 points, was ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game. Reports cited a shoulder injury and back spasms, and CBS gave no reason. If he is still sidelined, Chicago loses its top creator, and the offense was already struggling.
There is a reason for some hope. In Sunday's loss to Philadelphia, Chicago played its most competitive game of the season and shot 52.3 percent. Splitter also reshuffled the rotation, benching Buddy Hield and Leonard Miller for Patrick Williams and Jordan Hawkins. That game was also Nic Claxton's Bulls debut after eight games out with a hamstring strain. He is not on the injury report, and his size matters for a team that has given up too many points in the paint.
Atlanta comes in at 7-4 and fourth in the East, but it just saw a four-game winning streak end in a 124-114 loss to the Lakers on Nov. 9. The Hawks have their own problems. Henri Veesaar is out for the season with an ACL injury, and Keshon Gilbert and Asa Newell are also out. That thins their depth and could stretch the rotation.
The Bulls should compete, particularly if Claxton and the new lineup keep the shooting efficient. Still, losing Powell would leave them short on shot creation, and Atlanta's better record points to a more reliable team. I expect the Hawks to pull away late and end Chicago's frustrating run of near-misses and losses.
Prediction: Hawks 118, Bulls 109.