The Rockets (18-18) have opened their longest road trip of the season (six games) with two straight losses with Wednesday’s 124-119 overtime setback (box score) versus the Chicago Bulls (18-21).
The Bulls had one of their best nights of the 2023-24 season on 3-pointers, making 19-of-47 from distance (40.4%). Point guard Coby White led the way with 30 points and 8 assists, and he hit 6-of-11 from beyond the arc (54.5%). Going into the game, Chicago ranked among the NBA’s bottom 10 teams in both 3-point makes and accuracy.
Houston shot 11-of-45 on 3-pointers (24.4%), headlined by an unusually cold 3-of-14 night (21.4%) by Fred VanVleet. For the Rockets, it was an exhausting, gut-punch loss after rallying back from a double-digit deficit late in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
After a scoreless first half, Alperen Sengun was breathtaking with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting (57.9%). He dished 9 rebounds and 5 assists, and Sengun’s flurry late in the fourth quarter and at the start of overtime gave the Rockets a 5-point lead with less than three minutes left to play.
But Houston was outscored 10-0 to finish overtime, and Sengun didn’t get a shot attempt on either of the next two possessions as Chicago grabbed a lead the home team wouldn’t relinquish.
Other Rockets in double figures included:
- Fred VanVleet: 20 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 18 points, 15 rebounds; 7-of-14 shooting (50%), 4-of-9 on 3-pointers
- Cam Whitmore: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals; 6-of-12 shooting (50%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40%)
- Jalen Green: 18 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds; 8-of-19 shooting (42.1%), 2-of-7 on 3-pointers (28.6%)
The Rockets were again short-handed, with Dillon Brooks (right oblique strain) and Tari Eason (left lower leg soreness) still sidelined.
Here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Houston continues its road trip Friday in Detroit (3-35), where the tip is set for 6:30 p.m. Central.