NBA

Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets

· National Basketball Association
28-39, 15-17 Away
Final
114 - 117

43-25, 25-10 Home

Jalen Green scores 28 and the Rockets down the Bulls 117-114

Alperen Sengun elevates for the big-time stuff

Green also added six rebounds for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun scored 24 points while adding 15 rebounds. Fred VanVleet shot 8 for 20 (5 for 14 from 3-point range) and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 23 points.

Coby White led the way for the Bulls with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Tre Jones finished with 19 points and six assists for Chicago.

VanVleet put up 18 second-quarter points for the Rockets, who trailed 65-60 at halftime. The Rockets took the lead for good with 5:52 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from Green to make it a 100-98 game.

Takeaways Bulls: The loss snapped a four-game winning streak. ... It was the opening game of a six-game road trip. ... Josh Giddy, day to day with an ankle injury, was out. But White (toe) started.

Rockets: With Tari Eason out because of injury management for his lower leg, Jabari Smith Jr. moved into the starting lineup. ... The Rockets improved to 25-10 at home. ... VanVleet had 21 first-half points for Houston, including a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the half.

Key moment Green hit a 3-pointer that gave Houston a 100-98 lead with 5:52 left in the game, then followed it up with a layup and the Rockets never trailed again.

Key stat The Rockets outrebounded the Bulls by 18 (54 to 36).

Next up The Rockets will host the 76ers on Monday.

The Bulls visit the Jazz on Monday.

Regular Season Series

HOU wins series 2-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 114 - 117
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 114 - 117
4th 1.0 Tre Jones makes 1-foot two point shot 114 - 117
4th 5.1 Aaron Holiday makes free throw 2 of 2 112 - 117
4th 5.1 Rockets offensive team rebound 112 - 116

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/chi.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCHI https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/hou.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originHOU
43-93 FG 44-98
46 Field Goal % 45
14-38 3PT 14-44
37 Three Point % 32
14-16 FT 15-26
88 Free Throw % 58
36 Rebounds 54
5 Offensive Rebounds 16
31 Defensive Rebounds 38
24 Assists 24
6 Steals 4
5 Blocks 6
10 Turnovers 11
1 Team Turnovers 3
11 Total Turnovers 14
0 Technical Fouls 0
0 Total Technical Fouls 0
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
12 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 14
13 Fast Break Points 4
52 Points in Paint 46
23 Fouls 18
11 Largest Lead 7
Houston Rockets Houston Rockets Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Dorian Finney-Smith, F Out Dec 24
Alperen Sengun, C Day-To-Day Dec 24
Jae'Sean Tate, F Day-To-Day Dec 24
Fred VanVleet, G Out Sep 22
Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Matas Buzelis, F Day-To-Day Dec 23
Noa Essengue, F Out Dec 3

Game Information

Toyota Center (Houston)

Location: Houston, TX
Attendance: 18,055 · Capacity:

2025-26 Central Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Detroit 24 6 .800 - W3
Cleveland 17 14 .548 7.5 W2
Chicago 14 15 .483 9.5 W4
Milwaukee 12 18 .400 12 W1
Indiana 6 24 .200 18 L6

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
San Antonio 22 7 .759 - W7
Houston 17 10 .630 4 L2
Memphis 14 16 .467 8.5 W1
Dallas 12 19 .387 11 W1
New Orleans 8 23 .258 15 L1
Full Standings

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