The Chicago Bulls will battle the Houston Rockets on February 4 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
The Chicago Bulls are 30-19 SU and in first place in the Central Division but will have a tough time traveling to Houston to face a high scoring Rockets team playing sans Dwight Howard. The Rockets nonetheless are 3-point favorites as listed at oddsmaker Bovada.
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The Houston Rockets have done well without Dwight Howard during his various absences this season, though signs of trouble to come bubbled up in their most recent defeat.
As they prepare to be without their center for the foreseeable future, the Rockets may again face interior struggles Wednesday night against Pau Gasol and the Chicago Bulls.
Howard has been dealing with knee trouble most of the season, but the Rockets (33-15) are 11-5 in games he's missed and won three straight in his absence Jan. 23-28.
That streak came to an abrupt halt Saturday in a 114-101 loss at Detroit in which Pistons big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond combined for 30 points and 28 rebounds.
The 33-15 Houston Rockets have had the last few days off as they get ready to face the 30-19 Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won the previous meeting just under a month ago in Chicago.
The Rockets will have to rely on the frontcourt of Donatas Motiejunas and Josh Smith against Pau Gasol. Gasol put up a 27-and-14 line in last month’s game. Motiejunas and Smith have been playing well as of late but will have their hands full tonight trying to both stop Gasol and help protect the rim with Howard out.
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Chicago (30-19) does not boast as formidable a front line, but the duo of Gasol and Joakim Noah should still cause problems for Houston. Gasol, who has earned his first All-Star selection since 2011, has averaged 15.4 points and 14.7 rebounds in his last nine games, while Noah has averaged 10.8 rebounds in five games since returning from injury.
To help stop the Bulls' inside presence, the Rockets will turn to Donatas Motiejunas, Terrence Jones, Josh Smith and Joey Dorsey.
The Bulls have lost on their last two trips to Houston, most recently with a 109-94 defeat Dec. 18, 2013.
Three Things to Watch:
1. Dorsey vs. Noah
2. Harden vs. Butler
3. Beverley vs. Rose
Prediction:
Rockets 103-99
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