Rockets Edge Bulls, 117-114, for 6th Straight Win
Sixth Heaven. Green Ascending. Moving Up.
After a slow start, Houston used a dominant third quarter to take control of the game, as the Rockets beat the Bulls, 117-114, on Saturday night. After allowing Chicago to score 36 points in the second period, Houston trailed by five points at halftime. However, the Rockets buckled down defensively in the third period, as they allowed the Bulls to score only 18 points in the third quarter. The victory gives Houston their sixth straight, also marking their season-high for a winning streak.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points. Alperen Sengun score 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. And Fred VanVleet kept Houston within distance in the second quarter, scoring 18 of his 23 points in the second period. FVV truly has been a calming presence since his return to the lineup, and this was his best game in his third appearance since returning from an ankle injury. Coby White led the Bulls with 23 points, and Tre Jones added 19 for Chicago, but once the Rockets started rolling in the second half, the Bulls had no answers for a red-hot Houston team.
With this latest victory, Jalen Green has now scored at least 23 points in three straight games. This is after Green struggled to reach that mark in the previous five matches beforehand. It appears that Jalen is finally rounding into form, as only 14 games remain now in the regular season for the Rockets. And Houston needs the best version of Green if they want to reach their potential and goals come playoff time.
It’s looking like the fight for the second seed in the Western Conference will be a four-team battle. And after Saturday night’s win over the Bulls, the Rockets now boast a record of 43-25. Due to other results across the league, Houston has now leapfrogged three teams (the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Memphis Grizzlies) to move from the fifth to the second spot in the West. So far, the Rockets own the tiebreaker with all three teams (with two games remaining against Denver and LA).
It will be tough, but Houston can certainly finish with the second seed if they continue playing strong basketball. Amen Thompson is also nearing a return, according to Head Coach Ime Udoka. Once Twin returns, the Rockets will be at full strength, and a very dangerous team for the rest of the league once the playoffs arrive.