National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Houston 120, Chicago 97
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Officials: #19 James Capers, #16 David Guthrie, #68 Marat Kogut
Attendance: 22310

Rockets 120, Bulls 97: James Harden led a balanced attack with 26 points and visiting Houston dominated inside en route to its fourth consecutive win.

Chandler Parsons poured in 23 points, Jeremy Lin added 20 points and 11 assists and Omer Asik erupted for 20 points and 18 rebounds against his former team as the Rockets finished with a 66-32 scoring edge in the paint. The league's most prolific offense shot 56.1 percent from the field while turning the ball over just nine times.

Nate Robinson led the way with 27 points off the bench for the Bulls, who have lost consecutive games for the first time in more than a month. Chicago didn't make a 3-pointer in the first half and finished just 6-for-20 from beyond the arc.

Harden's 10 first-quarter points fueled the Rockets to a 27-22 advantage after one, and Houston continued pouring it on in the second. A Carlos Delfino basket with 7:37 remaining stretched the lead to double digits, and Lin converted back-to-back layups a minute apart to cap a 14-2 run that lifted Houston to a 58-41 edge at the break.

The Rockets didn't relent in the second half, scoring 12 of the first 16 points and extending the lead to 31 on an Asik layup just past the midway point of the third quarter. Houston racked up 36 points in the frame to lead 94-68 entering the fourth, and Chicago didn't get close the rest of the way.

GAME NOTEBOOK
: Lin (11) and Harden (six) each recorded at least six assists for the third straight game. The backcourt duo has racked up a combined 60 assists over the past four outings. ... Asik spent his first two seasons as a backup with the Bulls before signing a three-year, $25.1-million offer sheet with Houston in the offseason. Wednesday's double-double was his 14th of the season and his fourth in a row. ... The Rockets have scored 120 or more points in three straight games for the first time since 1988.
Top Game Performances
 
Houston   Chicago
James Harden 26 Scoring Nate Robinson 27
Jeremy Lin 11 Assists Kirk Hinrich 4
Omer Asik 18 Rebounds Joakim Noah 9
James Harden 11 Free Throws Made Nate Robinson 5
Carlos Delfino 2 Steals Vladimir Radmanovic 2
Omer Asik 3 Blocks Joakim Noah 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Houston 120 56.1 8-20 20-24 25 45 5 8 10
Chicago 97 44.6 6-20 17-20 22 31 3 6 12
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game on the road against Indiana. The Bulls have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Houston will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Rockets have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.