Victorious for the fourth consecutive game, the Houston Rockets used a balanced offensive performance to drop the hometown Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Christmas Day, 120-97.
2012 NBA Christmas Day results: Rockets cruise past Bulls, 120-97
The Houston Rockets racked up 36 third-quarter points Tuesday night to spoil Christmas for the Chicago Bulls.
Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Unable to find their range from the three-point line, the Bulls were down by double digits early in the second quarter and never quite had the firepower to recover in the second half. The versatility of Houston's starting five ultimately proved too much, as the quartet of Chandler Parsons, Omer Asik, James Harden and Jeremy Lin each managed to hit the 20-point mark by game's end.
Along with turning the ball over just nine times as a team, the Rockets drained 56.1 percent of their field goals and hit 8-of-20 shots from the perimeter to keep the Bulls off balance. Reserve guard Nate Robinson chipped in 27 points for head coach Tom Thibodeau in the loss, while power forward Carlos Boozer was a complete non-factor with just six points and three rebounds.
With no time to rest following the win, Houston will next hit the road for a Wednesday date with the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. Thibodeau's Bulls will also be in action on Wednesday, with an evening showdown with Central Division rival Indiana on the road.
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