Chicago Bulls (34-35, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (33-35, 11th in the Western Conference)
Houston; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Houston faces the Chicago Bulls after Jalen Green scored 42 points in the Houston Rockets' 137-114 victory over the Washington Wizards.
The Rockets are 23-11 on their home court. Houston ranks third in the Western Conference in rebounding averaging 46.0 rebounds. Alperen Sengun paces the Rockets with 9.3 boards.
The Bulls are 16-18 in road games. Chicago is seventh in the Eastern Conference with 32.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Nikola Vucevic averaging 7.8.
The Rockets average 113.6 points per game, equal to what the Bulls give up. The Bulls average 11.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.6 fewer makes per game than the Rockets give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Bulls won 124-119 in overtime in the last meeting on Jan. 11. Coby White led the Bulls with 30 points, and Sengun led the Rockets with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Fred VanVleet is averaging 16.7 points and 8.2 assists for the Rockets. Green is averaging 27.3 points, six rebounds and 3.3 assists over the past 10 games.
White is shooting 45.2% and averaging 19.5 points for the Bulls. Alex Caruso is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 8-2, averaging 118.0 points, 46.3 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points per game.
Bulls: 6-4, averaging 112.8 points, 41.1 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Tari Eason: out for season (leg), Cam Whitmore: out (knee), Steven Adams: out for season (knee), Alperen Sengun: out (ankle).
Bulls: Coby White: day to day (hip), Zach LaVine: out for season (ankle), Patrick Williams: out for season (foot), Julian Phillips: day to day (foot), Lonzo Ball: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
