CHICAGO — The Houston Rockets showcased an impressive performance against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night, winning decisively with a score of 143-107, marking their fifth consecutive victory. Fred VanVleet led the charge with a personal season-high of 28 points. Alperen Sengun also had an outstanding game with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, achieving his second triple-double of the season. Notably, Jalen Green contributed 18 points, and all five starters for the Rockets reached double-digit scoring. Additionally, Amen Thompson, playing through right quad soreness, added 16 points and secured 11 rebounds off the bench.
The Rockets exhibited dominance in the paint, out-rebounding the Bulls 66 to 47, showcasing their strength both offensively and defensively. Zach LaVine was the top scorer for Chicago with 15 points while Talen Horton-Tucker provided 12 points off the bench. The Bulls faced setbacks, losing this match and their previous one, marking their third loss in the last four games.
Despite a sluggish start, the Rockets improved their shooting to 52.4% on the night, converting 55 of their 105 attempts. The game took a decisive turn in the second quarter when LaVine’s free throws tied the score at 36 four minutes into the quarter. Following that, led by VanVleet and Sengun, the Rockets surged ahead, outpacing the Bulls 32-16, which brought them to a 68-52 lead at halftime. The Rockets continued their momentum into the third quarter with an 11-0 run, extending their lead to 108-78 after 36 minutes of play.
One of the standout moments for the Rockets was in the second quarter, where they achieved a season-high by scoring 41 points, closely followed by 40 points in the third quarter. The Chicago Bulls struggled significantly, managing only 33.6% shooting from the field, totaling 36 successful shots out of 107 attempts. The Rockets’ scoring output of 143 points is also noteworthy, as it marks the highest amount ever allowed by the Bulls to Houston.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are set to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, while the Bulls will meet the Detroit Pistons in their next game.