Preview: Hornets at Bulls CHICAGO (Interstat) — Two teams on the fringe of the Eastern Conference play-in picture will meet Tuesday night when the Charlotte Hornets visit the Chicago Bulls at United Center. The Hornets (26-31) enter having lost two straight, including a 118-113 defeat to Cleveland on Friday. The Bulls (24-33) have dropped three consecutive games and are coming off a 126-110 home loss to Detroit on Saturday. All eyes will be on Charlotte’s dynamic second-year guard, Kon Knueppel, who is in the midst of a stellar February. He is averaging 21.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists over his last 10 games, including a 33-point, 6-rebound performance against the Cavaliers. His scoring surge has been a catalyst for the Hornets, who had won seven of eight before their recent skid. Chicago will counter with guard Josh Giddey, who is coming off a season-high 27 points in the loss to Detroit. His playmaking and recent scoring uptick will be vital for a Bulls offense that has struggled with consistency, particularly during a 1-9 stretch over their last 10 games. The season series favors Charlotte, which has won two of the three matchups. The Hornets claimed the most recent meeting, 112-99 in Chicago on Jan. 3. The Bulls’ lone win was a 129-126 victory in Charlotte on Dec. 12. Both teams are looking to stabilize before the schedule intensifies. Following Tuesday’s game, Charlotte begins a stretch with seven of its next nine on the road. Chicago, after hosting Portland on Thursday, embarks on a challenging five-game Western Conference trip starting March 5. Defensive focus will be key. The Bulls have allowed an average of 120.3 points during their three-game losing streak, while the Hornets have given up 113.5 points per game in their last two losses after a period of improved defense. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.