1st Quarter Report
Solely three extra quarters stand between the Rockets and the win they have been favored to gather coming into this night. They’ve a little bit of a cushion as they presently lead the Bulls 42-28.
The Rockets entered the matchup having received six straight they usually’re simply three quarters away from one other. Will they make it seven, or will the Bulls step up and spoil it? We’ll know quickly.
Who’s Taking part in
Chicago Bulls @ Houston Rockets
Present Data: Chicago 34-35, Houston 33-35
How To Watch
- When: Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET
- The place: Toyota Middle — Houston, Texas
- TV: NBC Sports activities Chicago
- Observe: CBS Sports activities App
- On-line streaming: fuboTV (Attempt free of charge. Regional restrictions might apply.)
- Ticket Price: $14.00
What to Know
The Bulls have loved a three-game homestand however will quickly need to mud off their street jerseys. They’ll sq. off in opposition to the Houston Rockets at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday at Toyota Middle. Each groups come into the contest bolstered by wins of their earlier matches.
The Bulls proved they’ll win massive on Saturday (they received by 29) however on Monday they proved they’ll win the shut ones too. They narrowly escaped with a win because the group sidled previous Portland 110-107.
The Bulls bought their win on the backs of a number of key gamers, but it surely was DeMar DeRozan out in entrance who scored 28 factors together with six assists and 5 rebounds. The group additionally bought some assist courtesy of Ayo Dosunmu, who dropped a double-double on 23 factors and ten assists.
In the meantime, the Rockets had already received 5 in a row (a stretch the place they outscored their opponents by a mean of 11.2 factors), they usually went forward and made it six on Tuesday. They put the damage on Washington with a pointy 137-114 win. The rating was shut on the half, however the Rockets pulled away within the second half with 77 factors.
Jalen Inexperienced had a dynamite recreation for the Rockets, capturing 7-for-13 from deep and dropping a double-double on 42 factors and ten rebounds. As a matter of truth, that is probably the most factors Inexperienced has scored all season. Amen Thompson was one other key contributor, dropping a double-double on 25 factors and ten rebounds.
Chicago has been performing effectively not too long ago as they’ve received three of their final 4 matches, which offered an enormous bump to their 34-35 report this season. As for Houston, they pushed their report as much as 33-35 with that win, which was their fifth straight on the street.
This contest is one the place the variety of possessions is prone to be a giant issue: The Bulls have not given up the ball simply this season, having solely averaged 11.7 turnovers per recreation (they’re ranked fourth in turnovers per recreation total). Nevertheless, it is not just like the Rockets battle in that division as they have been averaging solely 12.4 turnovers per recreation. Given these competing strengths, it will be attention-grabbing to see how their conflict performs out.
The Bulls did not have an excessive amount of respiration room of their match in opposition to the Rockets when the groups final performed again in January, however they nonetheless walked away with a 124-119 win. The rematch is perhaps somewhat harder for the Bulls for the reason that squad will not have the home-court benefit this time round. We’ll see if the change in venue makes a distinction.
Odds
Houston is a 3.5-point favourite in opposition to Chicago, in response to the newest NBA odds.
The oddsmakers had a superb really feel for the road for this one, as the sport opened with the Rockets as a 2.5-point favourite.
The over/below is 218.5 factors.
See NBA picks for each single recreation, together with this one, from SportsLine’s superior pc mannequin. Get picks now.
Sequence Historical past
Houston and Chicago each have 5 wins of their final 10 video games.
- Jan 10, 2024 – Chicago 124 vs. Houston 119
- Mar 11, 2023 – Chicago 119 vs. Houston 111
- Dec 26, 2022 – Houston 133 vs. Chicago 118
- Dec 20, 2021 – Chicago 133 vs. Houston 118
- Nov 24, 2021 – Houston 118 vs. Chicago 113
- Feb 22, 2021 – Chicago 120 vs. Houston 100
- Jan 18, 2021 – Chicago 125 vs. Houston 120
- Nov 09, 2019 – Houston 117 vs. Chicago 94
- Dec 01, 2018 – Houston 121 vs. Chicago 105
- Nov 03, 2018 – Houston 96 vs. Chicago 88
