Houston Rockets vs Chicago Bulls Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 20/03/2024, 22:46  by Joseph King | Modified on 21/03/2024 at 12:00 in NBA Prediction

The Houston Rockets play host to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday with both teams in similar positions as they hunt a spot in the play-in tournament. Houston sits 11th in the West with a 33-35 record while the Bulls are ninth in the East with a mark of 34-35. The Rockets are one of the hottest teams in the league currently with their six-game winning run tied with the Celtics for the longest active streak. In the Toyota Center, the Rockets have been much more consistent than their road form. They’re 23-11 in front of the home fans compared to 10-24 as the visiting team. Houston’s best trait this season has been their vastly improved defense thanks to the arrival of head coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets rank as the fifth best defense at home with only 109.6 points allowed per game on average. They’ll be without their breakout star Alperen Sengun as the versatile Turkish big man is likely to miss the remainder of the regular season.

The Bulls have had an inconsistent season as they sit one game below .500 on the year. However, they are well positioned to earn a spot in the play-in tournament for a chance to qualify for the NBA Playoffs. They currently hold a 3.5 game lead over the 10th-place Hawks and a massive eight-game lead over the 11th-placed Nets. Chicago has only made it to the postseason in one of their last six seasons and finished 10th last season, exiting the play-in tournament in the second game against Miami. The Bulls are coming off a 110-107 home win over the Trail Blazers on Monday, their second victory in a row. Billy Donovan’s squad is on a good stretch of form with three wins in their last four games played. However, their last two victories have come over Portland and Washington who hold a combined 30-107 record on the year.