Rockets Aim for Sixth Straight Win as Bulls Come to Town
Red Battle. Hot Horns. Final Grind.
The NBA’s reddest teams square off as the Houston Rockets host the Chicago Bulls for a Saturday night showdown. The Rockets are aiming for their sixth straight win tonight, while the Bulls are seeking their fifth consecutive victory. Chicago is the hottest team in the East besides the juggernaut that is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs are currently riding an NBA season-high 16-game winning streak. One of Houston’s most impressive accomplishments this during this regular season was certainly sweeping the Cavs in consecutive games.
This Bulls team has undergone some sweeping changes over the past couple of seasons. Gone are the days of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan (both are ironically on the same team again, with the Sacramento Kings). Coby White has been on a tear for Chicago, scoring at least 20 points or more in their last seven games. Besides, White, the Bulls have sharpshooting Kevin “Red Velvet” Huerter, big man Nikola Vucevic, and Zack Collins as their top option off the bench. Defensively, the Rockets also need to keep an eye on streaky guard Tre Jones.
Tonight also marks the final back-to-back of the season for Houston, as they’re coming off a 133-96 beatdown last night over their instate rivals, the Dallas Mavericks. Therefore, as it’s been protocol all season, Tari Eason and Steven Adams will likely sit this matchup out against Chicago for precautionary reasons due to injury management. The Rockets will be slightly undermanned, as Amen Thompson remains out with an injury, but Houston still has enough firepower to beat this Bulls team.
Expect a close game, as the Rockets still struggle on the second night of back-to-backs, and the Bulls have the rest advantage having not played since Thursday night. Hopefully Houston maintains the focus and consistency they’ve shown in all four quarters throughout this homestand against a Bulls team that’s better than any of the teams the Rockets have beaten so far during this stretch. After their win last night, Houston jumped from fifth to third place in the Western Conference. And the Rockets are still only one game in the loss column behind the Denver Nuggets for the second seed. Houston needs to continue taking care of business at home against inferior competition, and the Rockets could potentially own the second spot out West come season’s end.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Chicago Bulls (28-38): Black
Houston Rockets (42-25): Red
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass