Rockets-Bulls Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Dec 25 2012 3:00PM

After tearing apart the NBA's No. 1 scoring defense, the Houston Rockets are looking for a repeat performance against top defensive team.

The Rockets will try to duplicate their fast-paced formula on Christmas Day when they visit the Chicago Bulls, who hope to get back on track following their second-worst loss of the season.

While the Bulls are 7-0 all-time at home on Christmas, they'll first have to find a way to slow down the league's top offense (105.4 per game) after Houston (14-12) ran past Memphis 121-96 on Saturday night for its third straight win.

Although Memphis entered the contest allowing an NBA-low 89.2 points per game, the Rockets scored 20 more points than any other Grizzlies opponent this season. Houston outscored Memphis 33-3 in fast-break points and handed its division rival its most lopsided loss of the season.

"It's easier getting them early than it is going against the defense and trying to get something in the last five seconds of the shot clock," coach Kevin McHale said.

Houston has taken advantage of its speed this month, ranking second in fast-break points at 19.8 per game.

However, it might be difficult to keep up that pace against a Bulls team allowing just 12.5 fast break points per game that also owns the NBA's second-best scoring defense (88.3 per game) at home.

James Harden scored 31 points on Saturday as the Rockets improved to 7-1 when he scores at least 30. The league's fourth-ranked scorer (25.6 per game) has averaged 30.0 points on 51.9 percent shooting over his last eight games and converted 91.5 percent (86 of 94) of his free throws in that span.

The Rockets, who have won five of six, are averaging 118.3 points during their three-game winning streak.

"We showed how explosive we can be offensively," said guard Jeremy Lin, who had 15 points and 11 assists against Memphis. "This is just a testament to people moving and passing the ball."

Lin was held to four points on 2-of-9 shooting in the first meeting with Chicago, but Harden had 28 points as Houston overcame a season-high 23 turnovers in a 93-89 home win Nov. 21.

Former Bull Omer Asik, who has 12 double-doubles, makes his first return to Chicago. He had four points and six rebounds last month against the Bulls, well off his season averages of 10.6 and 11.4, respectively.

After an impressive 110-106 victory at New York for their ninth win in 12 games, the Bulls look to bounce back following a 92-75 blowout loss at Atlanta on Saturday night.

Chicago's starters were outscored 72-39 as the team was held to its second-lowest point total of the season. Forward Luol Deng led the Bulls with just 11 points while playing through a sore shoulder.

"Tough loss. The highs and lows of this thing are unbelievable," said Joakim Noah, who added 10 points and nine rebounds. "One night you feel great because you won a big game, and then the next night you come out with the wrong mindset and you lose."

The Bulls will have to get their offense in gear against a Houston team that has won 37 consecutive games when holding its opponent below 90 points, the NBA's longest current streak.

Nate Robinson had a team-high 21 points at Houston in November. Deng finished with 19 and 10 rebounds, while Noah contributed 13 and 15, respectively.

The Rockets stopped a three-game losing streak in Chicago with a 99-93 victory there last April.

Rockets surge past Bulls 120-97

Posted Dec 25 2012 11:39PM

CHICAGO (AP) Omer Asik enjoyed his trip back to Chicago. And he got help from James Harden and Jeremy Lin.

Asik returned to the United Center and had a double-double with 20 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 120-97 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

It was his first trip to Chicago since signing with the Rockets in the offseason.

"Omer is a big-time player in the middle," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "Tonight he was blocking shots, getting rebounds, and outletting the ball for us. He's got a big body and sets wide picks for us. This was a very good game for him."

Harden scored 26 points and Lin added 20 points and 11 assists for Houston, which had all five starters score in double figures.

Chandler Parsons scored 23 points and Marcus Morris had 10.

Houston has won six of seven.

The Rockets had been just 3-7 on the road entering Tuesday, but a strong second quarter turned the holiday matchup into a blowout. The Rockets outscored the Bulls 31-19 in the period to break the game open.

Lin capped a 14-2 run midway through the quarter with a drive and a layup to make it 55-34. He scored 12 in the second quarter and Harden had 13.

Houston led 58-41 at halftime.

"We are a very young team, but are continuing to learn and believe in our system," McHale said.

Nate Robinson led the Bulls with 27 points, and Marco Belinelli scored 15.

Houston entered the game tops in the league in scoring at 105.4 points per game, while Chicago allowed the third-fewest in the league at 91.

Houston, though, was not slowed at all.

The Rockets pushed the pace and shot well against Chicago's defense. The Rockets outscored the Bulls 66-32 in the paint and 31-8 in transition. Their largest lead was 35 points.

The 120 points allowed and 23-point loss were season-worsts for the Bulls.

The Turkish-born Asik spent his first two years in the NBA with Chicago. He signed a three-year, $25 million offer sheet with the Rockets this summer that the Bulls did not match.

He entered the game averaging 10.6 points and 11.4 rebounds, and put together perhaps his best game of the season.

Asik received a round of applause when he was introduced at the beginning of the game, but the hospitality didn't last. He quickly heard jeers when he stepped to the free throw line early in the first quarter.

"I'm just happy we won the game," Asik said.

He added he did not think much about his return to Chicago.

"He was great just rolling to the basket," Bulls center Joakim Noah said. "They played four out and one in and he was able to get a lot of easy things around the rim."

Harden, fourth in the league in scoring, followed up two strong performances - 37 points against Detroit and 45 against Atlanta - with another strong game. He was 7 for 13 from the field and 11 for 13 from the free throw line.

Houston improved to 11-2 against the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls had won nine of 13 to climb into first place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division, but were flat for the second consecutive game. Chicago lost 92-75 Saturday in Atlanta.

Boos came down from the United Center crowd when Asik scored to make it 82-51 in the third quarter.

"If you are not right and don't have an edge, you are not going to win without the right amount of intensity," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "They completely outplayed us from the start."

Chicago cut the Houston lead to 100-85 with just under eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but a 6-0 Rockets' run ended the rally.

NOTE: Both teams have quick turnarounds for Wednesday games. The Bulls travel to Indianapolis to play the Pacers and the Rockets visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Notebook: Rockets 120, Bulls 97

Kent McDill, For NBA.com
Posted Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:34 PM - Updated Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:34 PM

THE FACTS: With four starters getting at least 20 points, the Houston Rockets scored easily and often on the way to a 120-97 win over the host Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day. James Harden had 26 points for the Rockets, who have won four in a row for the first time this season. Omer Asik, the former Bulls backup center, scored 20 points and 18 rebounds for Houston (15-12). Backup point guard Nate Robinson scored 27 points for the Bulls (15-12), all in the second half, as the Bulls played catch-up.

QUOTABLE: "If you can move your body and the ball, it's hard for the defense to get locked in."

-- Houston coach Kevin McHale

THE STAT: The Rockets went 13-for-18 in the second quarter, and 11 of those 13 baskets came in the paint. That opened a 17-point halftime lead.

THE STAT II: The Rockets outrebounded the Bulls 45-31, and shot 56 percent from the field to just 45 percent for the Bulls.

TURNING POINT: The 12-4 Houston run to start the second quarter opened the lead up to 13 points and the Bulls got no closer than nine the rest of the quarter. The closest the Bulls got in the second half was 15 points, and they trailed by as much as 35.

QUOTABLE II: "It's a good example of what we can do."

-- Houston guard Jeremy Lin

INJURY UPDATE: Bulls guard Rip Hamilton is reportedly getting close to returning from a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. He has missed 11 games so far.

HOT: Asik was 9-for-13 from the field and his 13 defensive rebounds were almost double that of his Bulls counterpart, Joakim Noah, who had seven defensive boards and a total of nine rebounds.

NOT: Bulls forward Carlos Boozer scored twice on his first two shots of the game, then went 1-for-9 the rest of the game.

QUOTABLE III: "If you are not right, and don't have an edge, you are not going to win without playing without the right amount of intensity."

-- Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau

GOOD MOVE: Rarely one to give up, the Bulls' Thibodeau pulled Luol Deng (the league leader in minutes played per game) after 90 seconds of the fourth quarter, and did not play Noah (who ranks second in minutes played per game) at all in the final period.

BAD MOVE: Despite the huge lead the entire second half, Houston's McHale played only eight players until the game's final 3:30, when he put in his final four subs.

ROOKIE WATCH: Bulls guard Marquis Teague, whose playing time dropped again after Kirk Hinrich returned from injury, played 17-plus minutes, scored eight points and had three assists with only one turnover.

NOTABLE: In the last two games, the Rockets beat two of the best defensive teams in the league, scoring 121 against Memphis to win by 25 and scoring 120 and winning by 23 against the Bulls. ... The Bulls have lost back-to-back games by 17 and 23 points. The Bulls play eight straight games against Eastern Conference opponents now.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Wednesday @ Pacers,Saturday vs. Wizards, Monday vs. Bobcats. For the Rockets, Wednesday @ Timberwolves, Friday @ Spurs, Saturday vs. Thunder.

• Rockets: Jones, White
• Bulls: Rose

• Rockets: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #19 James Capers, #16 David Guthrie, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 22310
• Duration: 2:12