ROCKETS DEFEAT BULLS
Rockets hold off Bulls 117-114 behind Jalen Green’s 28 points
Mar 16, 2025, 12:58 pm
Jalen Green led the way for Houston! Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Jalen Green scored 28 points and the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to six straight games with a 117-114 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
Green also added six rebounds for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun scored 24 points while adding 15 rebounds. Fred VanVleet shot 8 for 20 (5 for 14 from 3-point range) and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 23 points.
Coby White led the way for the Bulls with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Tre Jones finished with 19 points and six assists for Chicago.
VanVleet put up 18 second-quarter points for the Rockets, who trailed 65-60 at halftime. The Rockets took the lead for good with 5:52 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from Green to make it a 100-98 game.
Takeaways
Bulls: The loss snapped a four-game winning streak. ... It was the opening game of a six-game road trip. ... Josh Giddy, day to day with an ankle injury, was out. But White (toe) started.
Rockets: With Tari Eason out because of injury management for his lower leg, Jabari Smith Jr. moved into the starting lineup. ... The Rockets improved to 25-10 at home. ... VanVleet had 21 first-half points for Houston, including a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the half.
Key moment
Green hit a 3-pointer that gave Houston a 100-98 lead with 5:52 left in the game, then followed it up with a layup and the Rockets never trailed again.
Key stat
The Rockets outrebounded the Bulls by 18 (54 to 36).
Next up
The Rockets will host the 76ers on Monday.
The Bulls visit the Jazz on Monday.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Astros first baseman Christian Walker left Wednesday's game against the Athletics after being hit by a pitch on his right hand.
Manager Joe Espada said that he was hit on the top of his hand near his knuckles and that X-rays were negative.
“That's a good sign,” Espada said. “So we'll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Walker was hit by a 96 mph pitch from Luis Severino in the fourth inning. He writhed in pain for a few seconds before trotting to first base, where he was examined by a trainer.
He remained in the game and scored on a two-out single by Cam Smith.
Walker played defense in the next two innings before being replaced by pinch-hitter Mauricio Dubón in the bottom of the sixth.
“He played defense and once he came back for his at-bat, we asked him to grip a bat and he wasn't very comfortable doing that,” Espada said.