Chicago 94 vs Houston 89

[ducks]

bulls are kickign ass on this texas road trip

[ducks]

Chicago 94, Houston 89
Preview - Box Score - Recap

By CHRIS DUNCAN, AP Sports Writer
November 26, 2005

Chicago Bulls' Mike Sweetney (50) shoots over Houston Rockets' Dikembe Mutombo (55), of Congo, during the second quarter Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005 in Houston.
AP - Nov 26, 10:17 pm EST
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HOUSTON (AP) -- Kirk Hinrich made up for a terrible shooting night with one driving layup.

Chicago's leading scorer made only his second basket of the night with 1:32 left, fouling out Yao Ming in the process, and helping the Bulls to a 94-89 win over the reeling Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

Hinrich finished 2-for-10 for four points, but he was the man handling the ball out of a Bulls' timeout and the score tied at 85.

With the Houston crowd cheering as loudly as it has all season during the team's 3-11 start, Hinrich blew past Yao for a layup. Yao slapped Hinrich on the way up and fouled out after scoring a season-high 30 points and doing his best to rally the Rockets from a 75-60 deficit.

Ben Gordon scored 18, Andres Nocioni added 17 and Othella Harrington had 16 for Chicago, which won its final three games of a six-game road trip and handed Houston its seventh straight loss.

The Bulls went 10-for-20 in the third quarter and took a 71-60 lead to the fourth. The Rockets and their NBA-worst offense, meanwhile, missed 18 of 22 shots in the third quarter.

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Chicago extended the lead to 15 in the first minute of the final quarter, but Yao hit a hook shot and a driving layup to trigger the Houston comeback.

The Bulls suddenly started self-destructing, coughing up three turnovers in a minute, and Yao's turnaround from the baseline with 8:19 cut Chicago's lead to 75-69.

Chris Duhon turned a steal into a breakaway layup to push the lead to eight, but Yao continued the rally with a free throw and a three-point play.

He picked up his fifth foul with 4:51 left, then easily beat Tyson Chandler on a post move to cut the Bulls' lead to 80-78.

Gordon sank a 3-pointer at the other end, but Yao scored over Chandler again with 3:36 to go.

Nocioni hit an off-balance jumper from the baseline and Derek Anderson scored to keep the Rockets within three.

David Wesley then leaned into Hinrich and hit a jumper from the top of the key and got fouled. He sank the free throw to tie the game at 85.

Chicago coach Scott Skiles called time and Hinrich was the only Bull who touched the ball before giving his team the lead for good.

For a while, Harrington was the surprising go-to guy for the Bulls. He came in averaging 4.9 points, but shot 7-of-13.

Yao went 9-of-18 from the field and 12-of-14 from the free throw line. He twisted his left ankle on a spin move late in the first half. Trainers checked him during a Houston timeout and Yao returned to sink two free throws.

Notes

:The Rockets are 0-4 in the second of back-to-back games this season. ... Rockets star Tracy McGrady missed his fifth straight game and eighth this season with a back injury. Guard Jon Barry sat out with a bruised left foot. ...The Rockets have the NBA's second-ranked defense (89.5 points per game) and the lowest ranked offense (84.7 ppg). ... The Bulls snapped a five-game losing streak to Houston. ...The Rockets' losing streak is their longest since losing 15 straight in 2001.

[Brutalis]

Houston isnt a big deal to me now. They've already been exposed. GJ by the Bulls though on the road.

[boutons]

Bulls showed grit and hustle in second of road B2B, held off Rockets' late charge, but got helped with super, incredibly stoopid 6th PF by Yao with 1:30 left and the game tied.

Rockets aren't that tough, are injured, but had the Spurs lost that game, the excuse would have been reflexive. The Bulls didn't need an excuse.