David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
TNT drops national TV coverage of Chicago Bulls-Charlotte Hornets game on January 26
The NBA had high hopes for the Chicago Bulls heading into this season. So much so that they booked the team for "Rivals Week", which will feature games with interesting match-ups or some of the league's most bitter rivals. However, those plans have been derailed following the news that TNT will no longer be airing the Bulls game versus the Charlotte Hornets on January 26th.
Moved off the slate
Fans expected the Bulls to take another step forward in their bid for elite status after a successful campaign last season. They added savvy veterans such as Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond in the offseason, and the outlook was very positive in Chicago. However, things have not gone according to plan for the Bulls, as a slow start has placed them in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-23 record.
On the other hand, the Hornets have not fared any better as they sit in 14th place in the East with an 11-31 record. Most of their troubles come from the extended absence of star point guard LaMelo Ball, who has played in just 18 games due to ankle injuries.
Ball vs. Ball
The NBA had the match-up between the Ball brothers in mind when they booked the Bulls-Hornets game for January 26. The last time the siblings met, Chicago came away with a 133-119 victory in a highly-entertaining game, with Lonzo Ball coming up with 16 points and eight assists, while LaMelo had 18 points and 13 assists.
The Bulls-Hornets clash on national TV will be replaced by the game between the league-leading Boston Celtics and the resurgent New York Knicks.
