Frustrated by their series of 5 consecutive defeats, the Rockets showed up in Chicago on Monday and made the salsa on the floor of the Bulls. A guaranteed victory (133-118), behind a great collective effort and the great performances of two kids in particular: Kevin Porter Jr and Alperen Sengun.
If you had to know who was the best back and the best pivot that night at the United Center…
… it wasn’t DeMar DeRozan, it was Nikola Vucevic.
Poor Bulls who continued in their downward spiral, they who were however on three successes in a row. Billy Donovan’s men showed no soul in this meeting, getting a run from the start by the Rockets and showing no desire to catch up with the Texans. Totally dominated in the second half, the soldiers of Chicago gave only one impression: that of having nothing to give a shit, therefore of wanting to get cash on December 31st.
Not a problem for the Rockets, who wanted to have fun by applying on both sides of the field.
With Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun starting the game off strong, the Houston boys were putting the pressure on and that was all it took to bring down these Bulls.
The following ? It will only be a demonstration by two youngsters, taking advantage of very specific elements to get out of the game.
???? @Kevinporterjr filled it up tonight.
36 PTS (season high)
7 REB
9 AST
6 3PM (season high)
14-22 FGM@HoustonRockets W pic.twitter.com/CIcztuSZvr— NBA (@NBA) December 27, 2022
Alpi was EVERYWHERE tonight!
???? 25 PTS 11 REB 6 AST pic.twitter.com/lpheZLSeCL
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 27, 2022
Alperen Sengun was proud to know that his dad was in the stands, ready to watch him play.
The interior therefore did what it wanted on the floor, between interception and coast-to-coast dunk, blind passes in traffic, lucky hoop finishes or floaters full of touchdowns. It was the Sengun we love, in total improvisation, but wonderfully punishing a very porous interior sector on the Chicago side. A perf at 25 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists for Alpi, enough to cement his mini-Jokic label a little more. We are waiting to see the rest, but in the game, the intensity and the effort, Sengun gave everything.
As for Kevin Porter Jr? How not to see him banging his fist on the table, observing in particular the rumors around of a possible return of James Harden to Houston. Without any animosity, but with the certain need to recall all his talent, KPJ burned the Bulls in the last quarter, between strings at three-pointers, shake ball in hand and penalties at half distance. Poor Vucevic, forced to defend him on a desert island, and taking the sauce while Ryan Hollins burst out laughing at the Rockets’ comments.
It was exactly what this team needed before the end of the calendar year, a great success on the road. Because in deep fallout in their ugly habits, these Rockets asked for a little lightness and wanted to end an evening with a little happiness. For this kind of need, we know that at the moment we can trust the Bulls.
Victory for Houston, with a nice 5 major that shines, in a match where it was possible to have fun at all costs. We’ll talk about Chicago next time, because during these festive periods we prefer to play the card of kindness and understanding.