Chicago Bulls vs Houston Rockets Predictions

Houston and Chicago kept their flickering playoff hopes alive Tuesday with thrilling victories over Cleveland and Indiana, respectively. The Rockets battled back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to stun the Cavaliers while Jimmy Butler’s game-winning jumper against the Pacers handed the Bulls their first win in five games. The two storied franchises will look to sustain the momentum of those victories when they lock horns tonight in a critical showdown at Toyota Center.

Who will emerge victorious in this East vs. West clash? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this NBA matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Chicago Bulls vs. Houston Rockets Preview

Where: Toyota Center, Houston

When: Thursday, March 31, 7:00 PM ET

Line: Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets – view all NBA lines

TV Broadcast: TNT

Betting on the Chicago Bulls (37-37)

The Chicago Bulls finally snapped their four-game losing streak with a nerve-wracking 98-96 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. It was an important win for the Bulls who moved to within two games of the Pacers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Looking for a second straight road win tonight, the Bulls will continue to rely on their Big 3 of Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose. They combined to shoot 36.8 percent for 32 points against the Pacers, including Butler’s game-winning basket with 3.7 seconds left. They will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Houston defense that they torched for 69 points, 31 rebounds and 21 assists in their 108-100 win on March 5.

Apart from the trio, the Bulls will also need to get some solid production from Nikola Mirotic. He exploded for 28 points against the Pacers, 21 of which came from beyond the arc. The Serbian star also grabbed 10 boards for his first double-double since January 9. Consistency has been the main problem for Mirotic who scored just 17 points in his three previous games combined.

Defense will also play a key part in Chicago’s victory bid tonight. They will need to put the clamps on James Harden who’s experiencing a renaissance this month of March. He scored 36 points and dished out eight assists in Houston’s last game against Chicago.

The Bulls are 2-8 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 road games.

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Betting on the Houston Rockets (37-38)

The Houston Rockets returned to winning ways Tuesday with a thrilling 106-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Five players scored in double-figures for the Rockets who are locked in a three-way tie with the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz for seventh place in the Western Conference.

Leading the way for Houston in this all-important victory was James Harden. He scored 18 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to help Houston battle back from a gargantuan 20-point deficit. The Rockets put on a magnificent performance in the second half, scoring 66 points on 57.1 percent shooting. More than their offense, though, it was their defensive intensity that spelled the difference in this contest. They held Cleveland to just 36.0 percent shooting for the game, the third lowest all season for a Houston opponent.

The Rockets will look to replicate that performance when they take on the Bulls later tonight. The Rockets will have their work cut out for them, however, against a Chicago side that shot 45.6 percent from the field against them on March 5. Houston lost that game, 108-100. The Rockets have struggled mightily against the Bulls of late, losing three of their last four meetings. The Rockets will fancy their chances this time around, though, with Houston winning its last three games against Chicago at Toyota Center.