The Houston Rockets came in Monday hoping that unexpected free time (thanks to two postponements related to a winter storm) would allow them to push the reset button after a long streak of defeats.
Against Zach LaVine and the Bulls, it didn’t quite happen that way. Shocked by a 46-point eruption in the third quarter, Chicago (14-16) won for the fourth time in five games with Monday’s 120-100 (box score) at the Toyota Center. It is the Rockets ’eighth straight loss (11-18), all since Christian Wood’s right ankle injury.
The last time Houston had a longer streak of defeats than eight games he was a 15-player player early 2000-01 season.
LaVine led Chicago’s balanced effort with 21 points, reaching 4 of 6 from the 3-point range (66.7%). Meanwhile, teammate Coby White scored a maximum of 24 points and scored 10 rebounds. David Nwaba led Houston with 22 points, tied in the top run, and 9 rebounds.
The Rockets were down again, with two starters absent from Wood and Victor Oladipo (right foot tension). Still, the regulars who played were not good enough. Veteran guard John Wall (15 points, 7 assists) shot just 4 of 14 (28.6%), while running back Eric Gordon (13 points) shot 5 of 18 (27.8%) and 1 out of 10 against 3 -points (10.0%).
Houston returns to action Wednesday in Cleveland, with the scheduled departure at 6:30 p.m., Central Time. For now, here’s a compilation of highlights and the post-game reaction to Monday’s poor display.
Stephen Silas
David Nwaba
Eric Gordon