Things were going almost too smoothly for the Bulls.
Coming off arguably their most complete effort of the season two nights earlier in Oklahoma City to kick off a six-game trip, the Bulls rolled into Houston riding high and in search of their third consecutive victory.
Then the pregame warm-up took place and the other heel dropped.
Jimmy Butler didn’t finish it and was ruled out with a contusion to his right heel that according to a source is not considered serious though Butler is expected to get an MRI in Sacramento on Saturday.
That left the Bulls to try to fend off the Rockets on Friday night without their leading scorer and a key defender who would have helped in an attempt to shut down one of the NBA’s highest-octane offenses.
A funny thing happened en route to the Bulls collapsing in the face of adversity. They didn’t.
They fought gamely without Butler — and center Cristiano Felicio, who left the game in the second quarter with a right lower leg strain and didn’t return — but in the end came up just short in a 121-117 loss to the Rockets in overtime at the Toyota Center.
James Harden scored 42 points — including the go-ahead basket and free throw with 36.1 seconds remaining in overtime — and Eric Gordon added 21 for the Rockets. Starting in place of Butler, Michael Carter Williams led the Bulls with 23 points while adding nine rebounds and six assists. Taj Gibson scored 20 points and Dwyane Wade 19 for the Bulls.
"I was really proud of how the guys fought with Jimmy out of the lineup," coach Fred Hoiberg said. (Harden) is probably the toughest cover in our game. I thought Michael Carter-Williams after being out of the lineup for several games … battled and made Harden work for everything he got."
As usual, it was bombs away for the Rockets who never met a 3-point shot they didn’t like. They finished 16-for-43 from 3-point range while the Bulls were 8-for-25. Hoiberg took note of Houston’s affinity for launching long-range missiles before the teams tipped off.
"Six times they have shot more than 50 3s — it takes us a month to shoot 50 3s (and) they get it in a single game," Hoiberg said. "It’s a fun system to watch. If they get it going and shooting the ball well sometimes there’s not a lot you can do."
Taj Gibson on Bulls’ loss to Rockets: ‘We just let that one get away’
Bulls forward Taj Gibson reacts to the 121-117 loss to the Rockets on Feb. 3, 2017, in Houston. (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls forward Taj Gibson reacts to the 121-117 loss to the Rockets on Feb. 3, 2017, in Houston. (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)
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Even without Butler, the Bulls came out strong and had a 26-24 lead after one quarter — led by Carter-Williams, who had a team-high six points. The Rockets did the Bulls a few favors in the form of missed 3s, making just 5 of 13. In the second quarter, the Rockets began to find the range and outscored the Bulls 36-23 to take an 11-point lead at the half.
The third quarter was all Bulls — in particular Gibson — as they out-scored the Rockets 32-19. Gibson had 12 points in the quarter while running the floor effectively and being active under the basket.
In the fourth, the Bulls held an eight-point lead late before the Rockets rallied to tie it and send the game to overtime.
The Rockets came out firing in OT and scored the first five points but the Bulls caught them and it was a see-saw battle the rest of the way. Harden finished things off with the winning shot and free throws.
"We should have won the game," Gibson said. "Some rough calls late. We played hard. Good team effort but we just fell short. We have a lot of heart. We just let that one get away."
ckuc@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @ChrisKuc
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