Rockets Head Up to the Windy City for a Run with the Bulls
Tough Sledding. The 13th Key. Green Light in Sight?
Houston aims to sweep the season series over the Bulls, as they visit Chicago for a Monday night matchup. The Rockets beat the Bulls earlier this season, 118-113, in what became the first of seven straight wins for Houston. The squad is coming off a win over the Pistons, and hopefully a rematch with Chicago will ignite more positive results for the Rockets on the court. The Bulls are one of several teams who have recently been hit hard by COVID, even having two of their games recently postponed. However, they’ll have DeMar DeRozan tonight, and he’s coming off a 38 point torching of the Lakers. Chicago’s second-best player, Zach LaVine, is questionable. For the Rockets’ sake, hopefully LaVine sits this one out. Christian Wood, Alperen Sengun, and whichever Houston big men see action will need to contain Nikola Vucevic, a force in the paint for the Bulls.
The Bulls are well aware Houston beat them earlier this year, and will want to defend home court. Chicago has the best home record in the East, so this matchup will definitely be more difficult than the Rockets’ recent opponents. And after tonight, the Rockets head to Milwaukee to take on the defending-champion Bucks, and the team who snapped Houston’s winning streak. As tonight’s concerned, the Rockets need to hit their three-point shots. It may sound simple, but Houston is 9-4 when they make at least 13 threes. They’re only 1-16 when they fail to reach this mark. So if the Rockets are connecting from long range, they have a chance.
Kevin Porter Jr. is still out with an injury, but Stephen Silas recently said Jalen Green could return on this road-trip for Houston. Could it be tonight in Chicago? Houston could use their prized-rookie back in the lineup, as Green’s been out for a few weeks now. This one will really test Houston’s mettle mentally. The Bulls are tough to beat in Chicago, and it’s even harder to sweep a season series, even if it’s only two games. The Rockets just need to play hard, and pass the ball, find the open man. If they can reach that magic key, 13 made threes… Houston may just have enough for a surprise sweep.
United Center: Chicago, Illinois
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (10-20): Black
Chicago Bulls (18-10): White
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass