To the surprise of many, the Houston Rocket’s (21-13) motor didn’t fizzle sending them plunging back to earth after big-man Yao Ming broke his leg last month. Not only did the Rockets survive, they went on a five-game winning streak starting at New Jersey on Dec. 27. The streak ended last night (Jan. 7) at Minnesota. The Rockets would like to begin a new streak tonight and preferably of the winning variety. That will be a daunting task as they travel to play the Chicago Bulls in the United Center in the second of back to back games. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. (EST)
The Bulls are off to the franchise’s best start in recent history with a record of 20-14 through 34 games. The 20 wins to this point is the most for Chicago since its 1997-98 Championship season when the Bulls started 23-11 through 34 games. That season, the Bulls went on to a NBA-best 62-20 mark and eventually capture the club’s sixth, and most recent, NBA title. Last season through 34 games the Bulls were just 15-19.
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Houston has won seven of its last eight against Chicago, including three-straight at the United Center. The Rockets have defeated the Bulls by just one point in each of the last two meetings, including a 109-108 double-overtime defeat in Chicago in the finale last season and a 101-100 setback in the opener in Houston this season. The Bulls have not swept the two-game series with the Rockets since winning both meetings in the 2001-02 season.
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Tracy McGrady is averaging 30.1 points in seven games since his Dec. 26 return, leading the Rockets to a 5-2 record over that span. He scored 31 on Sunday at Minnesota – his fifth straight game with at least 30, but it wasn't enough as Houston fell 103-99 in overtime to the Timberwolves, snapping a season-high five-game winning streak.
Over his last five games, Luol Deng has been on a tear for the Bulls. During that time he has averaged 25.6 ppg and shot .647 from the field. In the last 15 years. On the year, Deng is averaging 18.7 ppg and .542 from field (13th in the NBA).
Chicago is favored by a -6 point chalk tonight with a 186 total. The Bulls have covered against the spread six of its last ten games with the OVER/UNDER split at 5-5 on totals bets.
The Rockets have not fared as well ATS in the last ten games as they have straight up by failing to cash in six of their last ten games. The OVER/UNDER in Rockets games is also an even 5-5 split.
