NBA · Final

Bulls Defeat Pelicans 134-118 at United Center

118

134

Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · United Center

Chicago Bulls 134, New Orleans Pelicans 118, final. Our NBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won New Orleans Pelicans vs Chicago Bulls?

Chicago Bulls beat New Orleans Pelicans 134-118 at United Center on December 31, 2025.

Who was favored in New Orleans Pelicans vs Chicago Bulls?

Chicago Bulls were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -122 (about 55% implied). The favorite won.

In a decisive matchup at the United Center, the Chicago Bulls emerged victorious against the New Orleans Pelicans with a final score of 134-118. This victory marked a significant turnaround for the Bulls, who had struggled in their recent games, particularly against the Pelicans, who had won the previous four encounters in their series. The Bulls' win not only showcased their scoring ability but also highlighted their resilience after a two-game losing streak.

Entering this game, the Bulls held a home record of 16-17, while the Pelicans struggled with an 8-27 record. The Bulls had shown a mixed form recently, with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games but had lost their last two contests. They averaged 117.8 points scored and allowed 122.2 points during this stretch. Their last five games reflected a similar trend, with an average of 118.2 points scored and 124.6 points allowed, indicating defensive vulnerabilities that could have been exploited by the Pelicans.

On the other hand, the Pelicans had a record of 5-5 in their last ten games but were on a four-game losing streak heading into this matchup. They scored an average of 123.4 points while allowing 121.8 points during this period. Their recent form included a notable win against the Dallas Mavericks but was overshadowed by losses to teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks. The Pelicans' away record stood at 1-1 in their last two games, a stark contrast to their overall away struggles this season.

The Bulls' home performance had been underwhelming, with a 2-4 record in their last six home games. Conversely, the Pelicans had managed to secure a 4-4 record in their last eight home games, showcasing a better performance in their own arena compared to their away games.

In terms of previous meetings, the Bulls faced the Pelicans just weeks prior on December 15, 2025, where they lost 104-114. This loss added to a streak of defeats against New Orleans, as the Bulls had not won against them since the 2024-2025 season. The Bulls were looking to break this trend and gain some momentum in the league.

Injuries played a role in the game, with several key players listed as day-to-day for both teams. The Bulls had Dailyn Swain, Zach Collins, Josh Giddey, and Rob Dillingham all listed as day-to-day due to various injuries. The Pelicans had Micah Peavy and Bryce McGowens also listed as day-to-day, which could have impacted their rotation and overall performance.

The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had the Bulls favored by 1.5 points with a total set at 248.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, with the Bulls at -122 on the moneyline and the Pelicans at +102. This indicated that while the Bulls were expected to win, the game was anticipated to be closely contested.

As the game progressed, the Bulls showcased their offensive prowess, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they maintained a strong lead. Key scoring plays included a driving floating jump shot from Patrick Williams and free throws from Jordan Poole, which helped solidify their lead. The Pelicans struggled to keep pace, despite a tip shot from Zion Williamson and a driving layup from Saddiq Bey. Ultimately, the Bulls' ability to execute in crucial moments allowed them to pull ahead decisively.

Overall, this game served as a crucial win for the Bulls, providing them with a much-needed boost in confidence and a chance to build momentum as they look to improve their standing in the league. The Pelicans, meanwhile, will need to regroup and address their recent struggles as they continue to seek consistency in their performance.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	CHI -1.5	248.5 o -110 / u -110	New Orleans Pelicans +102 · Chicago Bulls -122

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Injury report

Dailyn SwainDay-To-DayWristChicago Bulls
Zach CollinsDay-To-DayToeChicago Bulls
Josh GiddeyDay-To-DayAnkleChicago Bulls
Rob DillinghamDay-To-DayWristChicago Bulls
Micah PeavyDay-To-DayRestNew Orleans Pelicans
Bryce McGowensDay-To-DayToeNew Orleans Pelicans

Leaders

PointsIsaac Okoro24Chicago Bulls
AssistsTre Jones12Chicago Bulls
ReboundsJalen Smith14Chicago Bulls
PointsZion Williamson31New Orleans Pelicans
AssistsTrey Murphy III5New Orleans Pelicans
ReboundsKevon Looney10New Orleans Pelicans

Recent form

Chicago Bulls

Last 10: 6-4Streak L2117.8 scored · 122.2 allowed per game2-4 at home

L101-136vs Minnesota TimberwolvesDec 30
L103-112vs Milwaukee BucksDec 28
W109-102vs Philadelphia 76ersDec 27
W126-123at Atlanta HawksDec 24
W152-150at Atlanta HawksDec 21
W136-125at Cleveland CavaliersDec 20
W127-111vs Cleveland CavaliersDec 18
L104-114vs New Orleans PelicansDec 15
W129-126at Charlotte HornetsDec 13
L91-123vs Golden State WarriorsDec 8

New Orleans Pelicans

Last 10: 5-5Streak L4123.4 scored · 121.8 allowed per game1-1 away

L125-130vs New York KnicksDec 30
L114-123vs Phoenix SunsDec 28
L108-115vs Phoenix SunsDec 27
L118-141at Cleveland CavaliersDec 24
W119-113vs Dallas MavericksDec 23
W128-109vs Indiana PacersDec 21
W133-128vs Houston RocketsDec 19
W114-104at Chicago BullsDec 15
W143-120vs Portland Trail BlazersDec 12
L132-135vs San Antonio SpursDec 9

Standings

Team	Games behind	Lost	Streak	Win %	Won
San Antonio	-	20	L1	.756	62
Houston	10	30	W1	.634	52
New Orleans	36	56	L2	.317	26
Dallas	36	56	W1	.317	26
Memphis	37	57	L8	.305	25
Detroit	-	22	W3	.732	60
Cleveland	8	30	W1	.634	52
Milwaukee	28	50	L1	.390	32
Chicago	29	51	L2	.378	31
Indiana	41	63	L2	.232	19

Box score

Stat	New Orleans Pelicans	Chicago Bulls
Field goals	42-98	47-92
Field goal %	43	51
Three-pointers	12-38	15-43
Three-point %	32	35
Free throws	22-27	25-34
Free throw %	81	74
Rebounds	46	49
Offensive rebounds	12	8
Defensive rebounds	34	41
Assists	25	33
Steals	4	5
Blocks	9	7
Turnovers	10	7
Team turnovers	0	2
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	20	11
Fast-break points	15	25
Points in the paint	56	60
Fouls	24	18
Largest lead	2	17
Lead changes	5	5
Time in front	3	92

How the scoring went

3rd Quarter88-91Yves Missi makes free throw 1 of 2
3rd Quarter88-93Kevin Huerter makes running dunk (Tre Jones assists)
3rd Quarter88-94Tre Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
3rd Quarter88-95Tre Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
3rd Quarter88-96Patrick Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
3rd Quarter88-97Patrick Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
3rd Quarter89-97Jordan Poole makes free throw 1 of 2
3rd Quarter90-97Jordan Poole makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter93-97Saddiq Bey makes 23-foot three point jumper (Zion Williamson assists)
4th Quarter93-100Matas Buzelis makes 23-foot three point jumper (Nikola Vucevic assists)
4th Quarter94-100Zion Williamson makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter95-100Zion Williamson makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter95-102Nikola Vucevic makes 4-foot two point shot
4th Quarter98-102Saddiq Bey makes 24-foot three pointer (Jeremiah Fears assists)
4th Quarter98-105Matas Buzelis makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nikola Vucevic assists)
4th Quarter98-107Isaac Okoro makes running dunk (Tre Jones assists)
4th Quarter100-107Jeremiah Fears makes 1-foot two point shot
4th Quarter100-109Matas Buzelis makes driving layup (Ayo Dosunmu assists)
4th Quarter100-112Nikola Vucevic makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ayo Dosunmu assists)
4th Quarter101-112Zion Williamson makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter103-112Zion Williamson makes running layup (Trey Murphy III assists)
4th Quarter103-114Matas Buzelis makes 1-foot running dunk (Ayo Dosunmu assists)
4th Quarter103-115Ayo Dosunmu makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter103-116Ayo Dosunmu makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter105-116Trey Murphy III makes layup (Derik Queen assists)
4th Quarter105-119Kevin Huerter makes 26-foot three point jumper (Isaac Okoro assists)
4th Quarter105-122Ayo Dosunmu makes 23-foot three point jumper (Isaac Okoro assists)
4th Quarter108-122Trey Murphy III makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot (Zion Williamson assists)
4th Quarter110-122Derik Queen makes driving layup
4th Quarter112-122Zion Williamson makes running layup (Trey Murphy III assists)
4th Quarter112-125Patrick Williams makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tre Jones assists)
4th Quarter112-127Tre Jones makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot
4th Quarter112-129Patrick Williams makes 3-foot driving floating jump shot (Tre Jones assists)
4th Quarter114-129Zion Williamson makes tip shot
4th Quarter114-131Isaac Okoro makes driving layup
4th Quarter115-131Jordan Poole makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter116-131Jordan Poole makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter116-133Tre Jones makes 16-foot pullup jump shot (Patrick Williams assists)
4th Quarter118-133Saddiq Bey makes driving layup (Trey Murphy III assists)
4th Quarter118-134Nikola Vucevic makes free throw 2 of 2