Facing a struggling Houston Rockets team that also looks to be having an identity crisis at the moment gives the Chicago Bulls an opportune outing to continue their winning ways on the road on the night of Feb. 22. First-year head coach Billy Donovan and this Bulls team are set to face another Western Conference foe to start this week as they take on fellow first-year head coach Stephen Silas and the Rockets.
In their last outing, which occurred at home at the United Center on the night of Feb. 20, the Bulls got the best of the Sacramento Kings by the final score of 122-114. The Bulls were able to stave off a run from the Kings standout backcourt combination of shooting guard Buddy Hield and point guard De’Aaron Fox down the stretch to nab the eight-point victory in the end.
Moreover, it was not that long ago that the Bulls played their first game of the regular season thus far in front of a national television audience. In the Bulls tough seven-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 19, they played in front of a national television audience on ESPN.
The Bulls will get another crack at playing in front of a nationally televised audience in this meeting with the Rockets on the road. Chicago and Houston are set to tip off at 7 p.m. CT on national television on TNT.
Just ahead of tip off between the Bulls and Rockets on TNT on Feb. 22, the home team is favored by just one point. And the ESPN matchup predictor gives the Rockets a slight 52.4 percent chance to win this game.
How Chicago Bulls can beat the Rockets
In the first meeting between these two teams this season, the Bulls got the win by a five-point margin back on Jan. 18. Star shooting guard Zach LaVine gave the Bulls 33 points in that win over the Rockets, along with four rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.
The Bulls will need a big game from LaVine once again to top the Rockets on this night. He’s hot of late and looking like he clearly deserves his first career All-Star nod this year. In the 29 games that LaVine has played in for the Bulls so far this season (all of which he’s started in) he’s averaged 28.9 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks.
LaVine has shot a very efficient 51.8 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 86.2 percent from the free-throw line.
While LaVine staying hot would surely help the Bulls get a win over the Rockets on Feb. 22, there are other players that need to continue to step up. Second-year point guard Coby White and rookie forward Patrick Williams were crucial factors in the Bulls win over the Kings over the weekend.
White put up 19 points in the outing against the Kings, and Williams had one of his first career double-doubles. The Bulls need that offensive spark from White, and the two-way production and efficiency from Williams that they put on display in the win over the Kings.
A big night from third-year center Wendell Carter Jr. would only help the Bulls chances against the Rockets too.
The Bulls will be looking to extend their winning streak to two games if they can take care of business on the road on Feb 22. Donovan and the Bulls come into this game sporting a record of 13-16, while the Rockets come in with a record of 11-17.