The Chicago Bulls travel south to face the Houston Rockets in an inter-conference matchup on January 13, 2026. The Bulls are clinging to the fringes of the Eastern Conference playoff race, relying on a mix of veteran scoring and young talent amid a season of ups and downs. Meanwhile, the Rockets are surging in the West, boasting a strong home record and a balanced attack led by their young core. This game could highlight Houston’s defensive prowess against Chicago’s inconsistent offense, with the Rockets entering as heavy favorites. Below is a detailed breakdown.
Venue Location
Toyota Center, Houston, Texas. This 18,055-capacity arena has been the Rockets’ home since 2003 and is known for its energetic crowd, particularly in mid-season games against Eastern teams.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT). The game will be broadcast on SCHN (Space City Home Network) and CHSN (Chicago Sports Network), with streaming options via NBA League Pass.
Injury Report
Both teams are dealing with key absences, which could lead to increased minutes for bench players and potentially disrupt offensive flow, especially for the Bulls’ backcourt.
Chicago Bulls:
F Zach LaVine (right 1st toe sprain): Out. A significant loss for scoring; he’s averaging 20+ PPG this season.
F Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery): Out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Limits forward depth.
G Josh Giddey (undisclosed/ankle?): Out or questionable; he’s been rehabbing slowly and missed recent games.
G Coby White: Available after sitting out a back-to-back; provides a boost to the guard rotation.
Houston Rockets:
F Tari Eason (ankle): Out or day-to-day; ruled out for recent games, impacting forward versatility.
G Isaiah Crawford: Out (G League – Two-Way). Minor depth issue.
C Alperen Sengun: Available after missing time with an ankle sprain earlier; key for Houston’s interior presence.
These injuries may result in a lower-scoring game, with Chicago thin in the backcourt and Houston missing defensive energy from Eason.
Key Player Matchups
With injuries forcing adjustments, these battles could decide the game, focusing on interior dominance and perimeter shooting.
Nikola Vucevic (CHI C) vs. Alperen Sengun (HOU C): Vucevic’s mid-range scoring and rebounding (16.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG) against Sengun’s playmaking and post moves. Sengun’s return gives Houston an edge in the paint.
Coby White (CHI G) vs. Fred VanVleet (HOU G): White’s scoring (22 PPG recently) vs. VanVleet’s veteran defense and assists. White’s return could spark Chicago’s offense.
Ayo Dosunmu (CHI G) vs. Jalen Green (HOU G): Dosunmu’s efficiency (20 PPG recently) against Green’s athleticism and scoring bursts.
DeMar DeRozan (CHI F) vs. Dillon Brooks (HOU F): DeRozan’s mid-range mastery vs. Brooks’ tenacious defense; a classic scorer vs. stopper matchup.
Recent Team Forms
The Bulls snapped a three-game skid with a strong win, while the Rockets are in a three-game losing streak, struggling offensively.
Chicago Bulls (Last 10 Games): 4-6
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan 10 | vs DAL | W 125-107 |
| Jan 7 | @ DET | L 93-108 |
| Jan 5 | vs NOP | L (score not specified, but loss) |
| Jan 3 | vs CHA | W 134-118? (from history) |
| Jan 2 | vs ORL | W 134-118 |
| Dec 31 | vs NOP | W (recent win) |
| Dec 29 | @ MIA | L (part of streak) |
| Dec 27 | vs ATL | L |
| Dec 25 | @ IND | L |
| Dec 23 | vs MIL | W |
Chicago has a -15 point differential recently, with strong home play but road struggles (2-3 in last five away).
Houston Rockets (Last 10 Games): 5-5
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan 11 | @ SAC | L 98-111 |
| Jan 9 | @ POR | L 105-111 |
| Jan 7 | @ POR | L 102-103 |
| Jan 5 | vs PHX | W 100-97 |
| Jan 3 | vs DAL | W |
| Jan 1 | @ NOP | W |
| Dec 30 | vs MEM | L |
| Dec 28 | @ OKC | W |
| Dec 26 | vs SAS | W |
| Dec 23 | @ LAC | L |
Houston has tumbled with offensive slumps (-13 differential in losses), but they’re 11-2 at home as favorites.
Series History
Houston holds a slight all-time edge with a 76-73 record against Chicago in 149 regular-season games. In the last 10 meetings, the Rockets are 6-4, including a 117-114 win on March 15, 2025. Recent games have been close (average margin 5 points), with the over hitting in 4 of the last 5. Houston has won 4 of the last 5 at home.
Betting Trends
Spread: Bulls are 23-8 ATS as 0.5-4.5 underdogs, but 2-3 ATS recently.
Over/Under: Over in 6 of Rockets’ last 10 home games; under in 7 of Bulls’ last 10 road.
Other Trends: Rockets 27-8 ML in last 35 home games; Bulls 1-4 SU in last 5 road. Series under in 24-9-2 last 33.
Game Odds
Chicago Bulls 224.5
Houston Rockets – 12.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 12, 2026
