The NBA is a weird place right now. We’re in an era where the superstars are aging, the young guns are erratic, and the middle of the Eastern Conference feels like a never-ending game of musical chairs. If you’ve been following the Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls rivalry—if we can even call it that anymore—you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s a matchup that, on paper, shouldn't feel like an event. Yet, every time these two teams hit the hardwood in 2026, something chaotic, high-scoring, and borderline inexplicable happens.
Honestly, it’s become the "League Pass Special." You tune in expecting a standard Tuesday night game and end up watching a 152-150 double-overtime thriller where defense is a mere suggestion.
The Play-In Purgatory: A Familiar Dance
Let’s get real for a second. The Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls have basically moved into the 9th and 10th seeds. They’ve got a timeshare there. For the fourth year in a row, it looks like these two are destined for a Play-In tournament collision. It’s the "Mid-Off" that keeps on giving.
But here’s the thing: being "mid" in the NBA today is actually entertaining as hell.
Take their game back in late December 2025. Chicago walked into State Farm Arena and dropped 152 points on Atlanta. 152! In a regulation-adjacent timeframe. The Bulls won by two points in a game that felt more like an All-Star exhibition than a mid-season grind. This is the hallmark of the Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls matchup—a total abandonment of defensive principles in favor of absolute offensive fireworks.
Why Nobody Can Guard Anyone
If you look at the rosters, it makes sense. Atlanta is currently leaning heavily on a revamped lineup after the Trae Young era started showing serious cracks. They brought in Kristaps Porzingis to provide some rim protection and shooting, and CJ McCollum was added to provide that veteran "adult in the room" presence. But even with Porzingis lurking in the paint, the Hawks' perimeter defense is... well, it’s porous.
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On the other side, the Bulls are a fascinating mess. Josh Giddey has basically become the engine of their offense. He’s putting up triple-double threats every night, but his defensive footwork is still a work in progress. Pair him with Coby White, who has blossomed into a legitimate 25-point-per-game scorer but still struggles to stay in front of elite guards, and you have a recipe for a 130-point night for whichever team is shooting better.
The Trae Young Sized Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the shift in Atlanta. For years, the Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls narrative was "Trae Young vs. Zach LaVine." It was the battle of the flashy, high-volume scorers who couldn't quite get their teams over the hump.
Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape is totally different. Trae’s name has been in every trade rumor from here to San Antonio. The Hawks' front office, led by Landry Fields under the heavy influence of Quin Snyder’s system, has clearly tried to pivot toward a more balanced, "positionless" look. They’re betting big on Jalen Johnson. And why wouldn't they? Johnson is a 6'8" freak of nature who can grab a board and initiate the break. He’s the guy who actually makes the Hawks scary in transition.
But when they play Chicago, Jalen Johnson often finds himself matched up with Ayo Dosunmu or a surging Matas Buzelis. It’s a chess match of young wings that most casual fans are sleeping on.
The Bulls' "Power of Friendship" Run
Earlier this season, the Bulls actually started 5-0. It was their best start since the 90s. The vibes were immaculate. Then, they hit a seven-game skid because, well, they're the Bulls.
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They are the ultimate "mercurial" team. One night, Nikola Vucevic looks like an All-Star center, bullying people in the post and hitting trailing threes. The next night, he’s a turnstile on defense and the Bulls are getting out-rebounded by a team of G-Leaguers.
When they face the Hawks, it’s a clash of identities:
- Atlanta: Trying to be the "Spurs East" with movement and height.
- Chicago: Riding the hot hand and hoping Giddey’s passing can mask the lack of a true superstar.
Stats That Will Make You Double-Take
If you’re a betting person or just a stat nerd, the Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls head-to-head numbers from the last 24 months are wild.
- The Over is King: In four of their last five meetings, the total score has bypassed the 240-point mark.
- The Road Warrior Effect: Interestingly, the road team has won a disproportionate amount of these games. There’s something about the United Center crowd that makes the Hawks play with a chip on their shoulder.
- Assist Records: Atlanta currently leads the league in assists per game (over 30). This is the Quin Snyder effect. They don’t have a ball-hog anymore; they have a system that moves the ball until someone gets a wide-open corner three.
What to Watch for in the Next Matchup
The next time these two meet—likely with massive Play-In implications—keep your eyes on the bench. Atlanta’s depth has been surprisingly solid. Keaton Wallace and Dyson Daniels have become defensive pests that can actually change the momentum of a game.
Chicago’s X-factor is undoubtedly Coby White. When he’s hitting that step-back three, the Bulls are almost impossible to beat because it opens up the lane for Giddey to operate. If the Hawks can’t contain the initial point of attack, it’s going to be another 140-point track meet.
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Honestly, the Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls games are some of the most "human" basketball you'll see. It’s not the clinical, perfect execution of the Celtics or the Nuggets. It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s guys fighting for their playoff lives in a league that often feels like it's trying to squeeze them out.
Actionable Insights for the Savvy Fan
If you’re planning to follow this rivalry or attend a game, here’s the play:
- Watch the Injury Report: Both teams have been plagued by "nagging" injuries. If Porzingis is out, the Hawks have zero rim protection against Giddey’s drives.
- Live Bet the Momentum: These games are notorious for 15-0 runs. If the Bulls go up big in the first quarter, don’t count the Hawks out. They have the shooting to erase a lead in three minutes.
- Focus on Jalen Johnson: He is the barometer. If he’s aggressive and getting to the line, Atlanta wins. If he disappears into a "facilitator" role, Chicago’s grit usually takes over.
The Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls matchup might not be the NBA Finals preview we were promised five years ago, but it is the most honest representation of the NBA’s middle class. And in 2026, that middle class is where the most fun is happening.
Check the schedule for their next meeting in late March. It'll probably decide who gets home-court advantage for the 9/10 game. You won't want to miss it—just don't expect any defense.
Next Steps for the Die-Hard Fan:
- Review the Season Series: Look back at the 12/21 and 12/23 box scores to see how Chicago’s bench outproduced Atlanta’s starters in crunch time.
- Monitor Trade Deadline Rumors: Both teams are active. Keep an eye on any moves involving Coby White or the remaining Hawks veterans, as a single trade could completely flip the leverage in this matchup.
- Set Notifications for the Play-In Bracket: These teams are on a collision course. Tracking their "games back" in the standings during March will give you the best indicator of when the high-stakes rematch is set.