Bulls race to 20-point lead in 1st quarter, hang on to beat the Rockets
132-124
[March 24, 2026]
By LUKE DECOCK
CHICAGO (AP) — Matas Buzelis' layup in the final
seconds put Chicago ahead to stay and Collin Sexton came off the bench
to score 25 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Houston Rockets 132-124
Monday night.
Houston's loss, combined with San Antonio's 136-111 win over Miami,
allowed the Spurs (54-18) to clinch the Southwest Division. |
Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (2) drives as Houston Rockets guard
Reed Sheppard (15) guards during the first half of an NBA basketball
game in Chicago, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) |
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The Bulls (29-42) led by as many as 22 points after scoring a
season-high 41 points in the first quarter. But, Chicago trailed
by four points late and needed Buzelis' basket with 10.2 seconds
remaining to move ahead to stay and post their first win over
Houston in the teams' last five games.
Kevin Durant fueled the Rockets' (43-28) comeback by scoring 15
of his game-high 40 points in the fourth quarter. Durant was 15
of 23 from the field, marking the ninth straight game he shot
50% or better, which is the third-longest streak of his career.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka was ejected after being assessed his
second technical foul of the game with 9.1 seconds remaining.
Sexton scored 17 of his points in the first quarter, while
Buzelis finished with 23 and Leonard Miller 17. Josh Giddey, Tre
Jones and Jalen Smith each scored 15 points for the Bulls, with
Giddey adding 13 assists.
After trailing by 17 at the half, the Rockets took the lead on a
Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pointer with 5:56 to play. Alperen Sengun
scored 33 for the Rockets and Amen Thompson added 23.
Jalen Smith, who was listed as questionable after missing the
Bulls' last game with an ankle injury, tied his season high in
points and finished with six rebounds and two blocks off the
bench despite being limited to 26 minutes.
The Rockets had won two straight after inserting second-year
guard Reed Sheppard into the starting lineup. Sheppard shot 3
for 14 from 3-point distance.
Up next
Rockets: Visit Minnesota on Wednesday.
Bulls: Visit Philadelphia on Wednesday.
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