Things still aren’t quite right with the Chicago Bulls. Back-to-back losses coupled with subpar play from Derrick Rose have given Chicago very little to be bullish about. The Bulls continue their current six-game road trip tonight with a trip to Houston to face a Rockets team that will be playing without big man Dwight Howard for the considerable future.
Can Chicago capitalize and bring the Rockets down on the road? Read on for our complete preview below, and find more on the big night in the NBA in our preview of Wizards vs. Hawks.
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Chicago Bulls vs. Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Where: Toyota Center, Houston
When: Wednesday, February 4, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Chicago Bulls (+3) at Houston Rockets (-3); total 204.0 — view all NBA lines
Betting on the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls’ six-game road trip started out promisingly enough with a rare win at Golden State, 113-111, in overtime. However, the Bulls have followed that up with two very disappointing losses at the Lakers (123-118 in overtime) and at the Suns (99-93).
[sc:NBA240banner ]The Bulls finished the month of January just 8-9 (7-10 against the spread), perhaps a sign that those rumored issues about head coach Tom Thibodeau and management behind the scenes have made their way onto the court.
Derrick Rose has averaged 23 points thus far in the road trip, but he has been very inefficient in getting his points. In those three games, Rose is shooting just 34 percent from the field and 5-of-25 (20 percent) from beyond the arc.
Thankfully, Jimmy Butler has rediscovered his scoring touch in his first two games since returning from an illness. Butler tied a season-high with 35 points in a losing effort against the Lakers and was one of three Bulls with 20-plus points at Phoenix.
But Chicago’s problems for most of the season have come on the defensive end. They’re currently ranked 13th in defensive efficiency, by far their worst-ever ranking under head coach and defensive guru Thibodeau.
However, they have still defended the three-point line very well, limiting opponents to 12 attempts per game (second-fewest in the league). Their ability to deny the three will be a big advantage against a Rockets offense that is very reliant on the three-pointer.
The Houston Rockets will be without All-Star-caliber big man Dwight Howard for at least a month due to his troublesome knee. Howard missed 11 straight games earlier this season because of that knee issue on top of the five straight games he’s missed recently.
The Rockets have actually fared relatively well without their star center. They went 8-3 in those first 11 games, and have gone 4-1 in their last five with him out of the lineup.
Donatas Montiejunas has stepped up big with Howard out of the lineup. D-Mo has averaged 17 points and seven rebounds while shooting 58 percent in his last five games. With the Rockets lacking any consistent source of offense aside from James Harden, D-Mo will need to hold his own on both ends of the floor against Chicago’s talented frontline.
Speaking of Harden, the MVP candidate was spectacular in Howard’s absence earlier in the season. He averaged 29 points, six rebounds and six assists. He had a similar all-around performance with 26-7-9 in a losing effort on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons.
Harden missed practice on Monday due to a bruised knee, but he should ready to go for Wednesday night. In six games this season where the Rockets have had three-plus days’ rest, Harden is averaging 30.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists with 11 free throw attempts per game.
Writer’s Prediction
The Bulls (+3) regroup to score a big road win, 105-100, at Houston.
