Frustrated with their 5-game losing streak, the Rockets showed up in Chicago on Monday and made salsa on the floor of the Bulls. An assured victory (133-118), behind a great collective effort and the great performances of two boys in particular: Kevin Porter Jr and Alperen Sengun.
If I had to know who was the best defender and the best pivot that night at the United Center…
…it wasn’t DeMar DeRozan, it was Nikola Vucevic.
Poor Bulls who continued on their downward spiral, but they were three hits in a row. Billy Donovan’s men showed no soul in this matchup, getting a run off the start by the Rockets and showing no desire to catch up with the Texans. Totally dominated in the second half, the Chicago soldiers gave only one impression: that of not having shit, therefore wanting to cash in on December 31st.
No problem for the Rockets, who wanted to have fun running on both sides of the field.
With Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun starting the game strong, the Houston boys were putting pressure and that was enough to take these Bulls down.
The following ? It will only be a demonstration by two young people, using very specific elements to get out of the game.
🔥 @Kevinporterjr filled it tonight.
36 PTS (high season)
7 REB
9 AST
6.00pm (high season)
14-22 FGM@HoustonRocket w pic.twitter.com/CIcztuSZvr—NBA (@NBA) December 27, 2022
Alps tonight was EVERYWHERE!
📊 25 PTS 11 REB 6 AST pic.twitter.com/lpheZLSeCL
—Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 27, 2022
Alperen Sengun was proud to know that his father was in the stands, ready to watch him play.
The infielder then did whatever he wanted on the floor, whether it was coast-to-coast interceptions and dunks, blind passes through traffic, lucky circle shots, or touchdown-filled floaters. It was the Sengun we love, totally off the cuff, but beautifully punishing a very porous infield sector on the Chicago side. A perfect a 25 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists for Alpi, enough to cement his mini-Jokic label some more. Let’s wait to see the rest, but in the game, in intensity and effort, Sengun gave everything.
As for Kevin Porter Jr? How not to see him banging his fist on the table, especially by observing the rumors about a possible return of James Harden to Houston. Without any animosity, but with a certain need to call on all of his talent, KPJ burned the Bulls in the final quarter, between three-point strings, ball in hand and mid-range penalties. Poor Vucevic, forced to defend him on a desert island, getting gravy while Ryan Hollins bursts out laughing at the Rockets’ comments.
It was exactly what this team needed before the end of the calendar year, a big success on the road. Because in a deep relapse into their bad habits, these Rockets were asking for a little levity and wanted to end an evening with a little happiness. For this type of need we know that we can trust the Bulls at the moment.
Victory for Houston, with a nice 5 majors 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 holiday seasons we prefer to play the card of kindness and understanding.
