As if Monday’s 143-130 loss to the struggling New Orleans Pelicans wasn’t bad enough, the Chicago Bulls fell again on Black Friday, losing 123-116 to the lowly Charlotte Hornets. They may have avoided a complete meltdown in the paint this time, but their defense is still surrendering 120 points or more game after game.
Chicago has now allowed 120 or more points in 11 straight games. Even in today’s high-scoring NBA, it’s been 35 years since any team has conceded 120 or more in that many consecutive contests.
Per our @CHSN__ broadcast, Bulls have allowed 120 or more points in 11 straight games. It’s the first time in 35 years that has happened. https://t.co/xdSYi8cBfz
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 29, 2025
The defense that was once a strength is crumbling
It’s a dubious accomplishment, especially considering Chicago’s defense was, at one point, a strength this season. Over the last 11 games, even lower-scoring teams like the Milwaukee Bucks (20th in the league), Washington Wizards (24th), New Orleans Pelicans (27th), and Charlotte Hornets (19th) have all managed to score 120 or more against the Bulls.
Early concerns suggested the Bulls’ defensive prowess might be short-lived, as opponents struggled to hit threes in the first few weeks of the season. Over Chicago’s first seven games—a 6-1 stretch—opponents shot just 34.2 percent from beyond the arc, ranking 24th in the league. Since then, that edge has largely vanished: opponents have connected on 36.8 percent from deep, ranking 12th in the NBA and a point above the league average.
With opponents now hitting threes at a respectable clip, Chicago’s defensive shortcomings are impossible to ignore. Their interior defense, exposed in the loss to New Orleans, allows far too many second-chance points and shots at the rim, and the team still struggles to convert turnovers into offense.
The Bulls rank 29th in opponents’ second-chance points, 30th in points allowed in the paint, and 23rd in points off turnovers. Perhaps worst of all, they are 28th in the NBA in opponents’ points per game, ahead of only the rebuilding Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.
Missing Isaac Okoro has hurt more than expected—he’s Chicago’s best on-ball defender. Coach Billy Donovan acknowledged the impact, saying, “…with him being out, we don’t have the luxury to just rely on one guy stopping one guy.”
Still, Okoro’s on/off numbers are hard to ignore. Chicago is 14.1 points better per 100 possessions with him off the floor—and 5.4 points better defensively—though the stats are likely skewed since he primarily plays with the starters. Even so, not even Josh Giddey, Kevin Huerter, or Nikola Vucevic have as much of a negative impact on the Bulls’ defense.
At this point, what was supposed to be an easy stretch of games has exposed just how limited Chicago’s defense truly is. The Bulls lack the perimeter defenders and rim protectors needed to even approach a league-average defense. Zach Collins’ return will help somewhat, but it’s clear the team will need to look elsewhere if it’s serious about fixing its woeful defense.