Scouting report: vs. Chicago
When/where: 7 p.m. today, United Center.
TV/radio: ATTSW; 740 AM, 850 AM (Spanish), 101.7 FM (Spanish).
So far: Rockets 5-3, Bulls 3-6.
Lately: The Rockets won their past two games, beating the Grizzlies and Warriors. The Bulls bounced back from blowing a 19-point lead in the loss to the Lakers to top the Hawks in Atlanta the next night.
Scouting the Rockets: The Rockets’ six-game winning streak against the Bulls is tied for the longest between the teams. … The Rockets have held double-digit leads in seven of eight games and led by 15 or more in three of those games. They have also trailed by double digits in four of the past six games. … The Rockets are 1-3 against Eastern Conference teams, 1-2 on the road. … The Rockets have had six players score in double figures in four of eight games. They had six or more players in double figures in 13 games all of last season. … Guard James Harden has scored 292 points in 283 minutes this season, the most points through the first eight games of a season since Michael Jordan scored 303 in 1988-89 . ... Forward P.J. Tucker’s 22 points on Wednesday were his most in three seasons with the Rockets. He has scored at least 15 points four times this season after reaching 15 seven times last season. … Center Clint Capela’s 19 points, six rebounds and six blocks on Wednesday were all season highs. Scouting the Bulls: The Bulls have routinely gotten off to good starts, ranking fifth in the NBA in net rating in the first half. … The Bulls are forcing an average of 19 turnovers per game, the most in the NBA. Bulls opponents have committed at least 15 turnovers all nine games this season. The Bulls are second in the NBA in points scored off turnovers. … Guard Zach LaVine, who averaged a career-high 23.7 points last season, leads the Bulls with an average of 20.4 points, making 38.6 percent of his 3s. … Guard Tomas Satoransky scored a career-high 27 points and had seven rebounds and eight assists against the Hawks in just 30 minutes on Wednesday. … With Otto Porter Jr. out, Chandler Hutchison will start. He is averaging seven points on 50 percent shooting this season. Injury report: Rockets — Guard Eric Gordon (left hamstring soreness) is probable. Guard Gerald Green (left foot surgery) and center Nene (strained adductor) are out. Bulls — Forward Otto Porter Jr. (sprained left foot) is out.
By the numbers: 16.5 — Second chance points scored per game by the Rockets this season to lead the NBA. Looking ahead: Rockets at Pelicans, Monday; Bulls vs. Knicks, Tuesday.