Ron Mercer scored 22 points and Marcus Fizer added 17 as the Bulls recorded an easy 103-75 victory over the Houston Rockets, their biggest victory in three-plus seasons under their embattled coach.
Mercer shot 11-of-22 from the field in 37 minutes after a dismal performance against Philadelphia on Saturday which he scored just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
 Chicago's Eddy Curry gets involved underneath. Jonathan Daniel/NBAE/Getty Images |
Floyd's future came into question after a team meeting Monday in which he reportedly told his players he was going to ask team management to relieve him of his duties.
"We got a real nice effort out of a lot of people tonight," he said. "I thought defensively, we were outstanding in the first half. We did not give up too many cheap baskets and we rebounded the ball. They played hard and spirited."
Chicago outrebounded Houston, 44-33, with center Brad Miller grabbing nine.
"We're all happy for the victory and I'm sure our coach will let loose and enjoy himself later as well," said Miller who scored five points. "It's been a frustrating time for all of us so a big win like tonight is very helpful."
Fizer made 8-of-13 shots to help the Bulls improve to 3-4 at the United Center this season. Chicago is 3-13 overall.
"When you guard people well, you get better shots," he said. "Tonight, we got a lot of blocks and steals. We limited them to the shots they wanted to take."
Chicago blocked five shots and made nine steals as beat Houston at home for the first time since January 18, 1998.
Moochie Norris scored 12 points for the tired Rockets, who have lost a season-high seven straight games.
"Four games in five nights, physically and mentally we were drained," Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "The guys were trying, but nothing seemed to work for us."
Greg Anthony hit a 3-pointer 2:18 into the game, giving the Bulls the lead for good at 7-6. Anthony scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
"Tonight, it was a good win for everybody," he said. "We all needed that but it was only one game. We need to continue to duplicate the performance."
The Bulls led 55-34 at halftime and allowed the Rockets to get no closer than 13 points with 11:18 left on a 3-pointer by rookie Eddie Griffin, who scored eight points.
Chicago went on a 21-6 run over the next seven-plus minutes as Fizer scored nine points and Fred Hoiberg added seven of his 11.
Houston's Cuttino Mobley, who averages 16.3 points, managed just five. Teammate Glen Rice scored just four points after recording 20 at New York on Monday.
"We should be embarrassed," Rice said. "We are a better team than we showed tonight. We never should have looked at Chicago and seen them as an easy win. Any team in the NBA is capable of doing what they did to us tonight."
"We did not give up many cheap baskets and we rebounded the ball," Floyd said.