Game ID: 22501042
Houston Rockets @ Chicago Bulls
Monday, March 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
United Center, Chicago, IL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CHI 41 24 30 37 132HOU 21 27 39 37 124
CHI vs HOU ScoutingCHI vs HOU Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CHI availability going into 3/13 · back-to-backOUT Simons missed 9 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Sexton missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 23 min (111% of 20)
OUT Collins missed 35 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 14 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Smith back 3/08 after 5, 28 min since (136% of 21)
NEW Giddey 32 to 37 min over the last 4
CHI availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Simons missed 10 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Sexton missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 36 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 15 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Smith back 3/08 after 5, 28 min since (136% of 21)
BACK Williams back 3/08 after 4, 20 min since (98% of 20)
NEW Giddey 32 to 39 min over the last 4
NEW Buzelis 29 to 36 min over the last 4
CHI availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 11 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Sexton missed 4 since 3/10, returns tonight: 18 min (68% of 26)
OUT Collins missed 37 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 16 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Smith back 3/08 after 5, 28 min since (134% of 21)
BACK Williams back 3/08 after 4, 20 min since (97% of 20)
NEW Giddey 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Buzelis 29 to 35 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT Simons missed 12 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 38 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 17 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Sexton back 3/18 after 4, 18 min since (68% of 26)
BACK Williams back 3/13 after 2, 23 min since (111% of 20)
NEW Buzelis 29 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Leo. Miller 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Smith 21 to 27 min over the last 4
CHI availability going into 3/23 · 3 days' restOUT Simons missed 13 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 6 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 39 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 18 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Sexton back 3/18 after 4, 18 min since (70% of 26)
BACK Williams back 3/13 after 2, 22 min since (108% of 20)
NEW Leo. Miller 23 to 28 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 14 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 7 since 3/10, returns tonight: 23 min (87% of 27)
OUT Collins missed 40 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 19 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Kawamura missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Sexton back 3/18 after 4, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Williams back 3/13 after 2, 22 min since (105% of 20)
CHI availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 15 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 41 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 20 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Kawamura missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Okoro back 3/25 after 7, 23 min since (87% of 27)
BACK Sexton back 3/18 after 4, 20 min since (78% of 26)
CHI availability going into 3/28 · back-to-backOUT Simons missed 16 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 42 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 21 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Kawamura missed 4 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Okoro back 3/25 after 7, 27 min since (101% of 27)
BACK Sexton back 3/18 after 4, 22 min since (86% of 26)
CHI availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 17 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Richards missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 43 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT McClung missed 22 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Kawamura missed 5 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Okoro back 3/25 after 7, 28 min since (104% of 27)
HOU availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restNEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 37 min (110% of 34)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 20 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 3/13, returns tonight: 16 min (120% of 14)
OUT Newton missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Newton missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (120% of 14)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 15 min since (109% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 6 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 17 min since (125% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 7 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 36 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (116% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 8 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (115% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 9 since 3/13, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Jones at 16 a game. Without Simons (13 straight), Okoro (6 straight), Collins (39 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 109 a night to Chicago's 124 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Chicago minus-0. Call it Houston 117, Chicago 114, Chicago keeping it close.
3/13 @ LAC 108-119 — CHI notes
CHI lost 108-119. CHI shot 44% (42 of 95) to LAC's 48%, 12 of 41 from three, and got to the line 13 times to LAC's 24. CHI turned it over 13 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. Jones led with 21 (10 of 11); Giddey added 20, Buzelis 18. Q2 was theirs, 29-30, but the other 3 periods went 89-79 against them. Jones's -23 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs MEM 132-107 — CHI notes
CHI won 132-107. CHI shot 52% (48 of 93) to MEM's 45%, 18 of 48 from three. The glass went 47-37 for them. Buzelis led with 29 (12 of 22, 5 of 13 from three); Jones added 17, Giddey 16. The hinge was Q4, 35-21: a lead of 11 became 25. Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/18 vs TOR 109-139 — CHI notes
CHI lost 109-139. CHI shot 47% (40 of 85) to TOR's 57%, 9 of 31 from three. Buzelis led with 19 (6 of 15, 3 of 8 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Dillingham added 15, Sexton 14. Q4 was theirs, 33-31, the deficit cut from 32 to 30, but the other 3 periods went 108-76 against them. Giddey's -30 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 vs CLE 110-115 — CHI notes
CHI lost 110-115. CHI shot 45% (42 of 94) to CLE's 44%, 15 of 44 from three, and got to the line 17 times to CLE's 31. Jones led with 20 (6 of 12, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Dillingham added 17, Richards 16. Q4 was theirs, 37-22, the deficit cut from 20 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 93-73 against them. Buzelis's -20 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs HOU 132-124 — CHI notes
CHI won 132-124. CHI shot 50% (45 of 90) to HOU's 53%, 19 of 38 from three. Sexton led with 25 (6 of 14, 4 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Buzelis added 23, Miller 17. The hinge was Q1, 41-21: from level to 20 ahead.
3/25 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Edgecombe at 24 and Grimes at 24 a game. Without Maxey (9 straight), George (25 straight), Embiid (13 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Sexton at 16 a game. Without Simons (14 straight), Okoro (7 straight), Collins (40 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Chicago at 36 percent from three to Philadelphia's 32. Call it Philadelphia 119, Chicago 116, Chicago keeping it close.
3/27 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Sandfort (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 128, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Sexton at 16 a game. Without Simons (15 straight), Collins (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 107 a night to Chicago's 128 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-7 a night and Chicago plus-1. Call it OKC 123, Chicago 113, OKC by 10.
3/28 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 126, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Prosper at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 18 a night. Without Rupert (2 straight), Wells (2 straight), Jerome (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 133, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Buzelis at 18 and Sexton at 17 a game. Without Simons (16 straight), Collins (42 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been minus-4 a night and Memphis minus-18 and the defense, Memphis allowing 126 a night to Chicago's 133. Call it Memphis 120, Chicago 119, Chicago keeping it close.
3/30 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Castle at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. One day's rest. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 130, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Sexton at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simons (17 straight), Richards (2 straight), Collins (43 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 105 a night to Chicago's 130 and the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-14 a night and Chicago plus-1. Call it San Antonio 125, Chicago 113, San Antonio by 12.
3/16 vs LAL 92-100 — HOU notes
HOU lost 92-100. HOU shot 48% (38 of 79) to LAL's 44%, 5 of 26 from three, and got to the line 15 times to LAL's 22. HOU turned it over 22 times to LAL's 11, and LAL turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 44-32 for them. Smith Jr. led with 22 (9 of 17, 2 of 8 from three); Thompson added 19, Durant 18. Q2 was theirs, 29-22, turning a 1-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 78-63 against them. They led by as many as 10. Sheppard's -13 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 vs LAL 116-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 116-124. HOU took 15 more shots (91 to 76), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to LAL's 61%, 11 of 32 from three, and got to the line 17 times to LAL's 27. Sengun led with 27 (10 of 15, 6 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 26, Smith Jr. 18. Q3 was theirs, 37-22, turning a 12-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 102-79 against them. Finney-Smith's -13 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 vs ATL 117-95 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-95. HOU shot 51% (42 of 83) to ATL's 42%, 14 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to ATL's 17 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 51-37 for them. Durant led with 25 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Smith Jr. added 23, Sengun 15. The hinge was Q3, 39-22: a lead of 8 became 25, and the lead reached 34. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/21 vs MIA 123-122 — HOU notes
HOU won 123-122. HOU shot 52% (45 of 86) to MIA's 51%, 16 of 35 from three. Durant led with 27 (9 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Thompson added 24, Sheppard 23. The hinge was Q4, 36-26: HOU came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/23 @ CHI 124-132 — HOU notes
HOU lost 124-132. HOU shot 53% (49 of 92) to CHI's 50%, 11 of 41 from three. Durant led with 40 (15 of 23, 5 of 10 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Sengun added 33, Thompson 23. Q3 was theirs, 39-30, the deficit cut from 17 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 102-85 against them. Durant's -18 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Randle at 23 and Dosunmu at 19 a game. Without Edwards (4 straight), Conley (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Houston's 115 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota plus-1. Call it Minnesota 115, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
3/27 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Jerome at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Without Mashack (5 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-14 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Memphis's 126. Call it Houston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
3/29 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Bey at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (2 straight), McGowens (9 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it Houston 116, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/31 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Shamet (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and New York plus-4 and the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Houston's 36. Call it Houston 115, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
CHICS C. Sexton
JG J. Giddey
JS J. Smith
LM L. Miller
MB M. Buzelis
NR N. Richards
PW P. Williams
RD R. Dillingham
TJ T. Jones
HOU/CHI the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Bulls race to 20-point lead in 1st quarter, hang on to beat the Rockets 132-124
CHICAGO -- — 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.
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.