Rockets beat Bulls 98-66; Yao Ming scores 12
( 2003-11-04 14:06) (Agencies)
Steve Francis scored 19 points to lead the Houston
Rockets to a 98-66 rout of the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Houston Rockets center Yao
Ming(R) shoots the ball over Chicago Bulls center Eddy Curry,November 3,
2003. Rockets annihilate Bulls 98-66. | Cuttino
Mobley added 14 points and Yao Ming had 12 points and seven rebounds for the
Rockets, who forced the Bulls into 19 turnovers and held them to just 27 percent
shooting.
Jamal Crawford led the Bulls with 19 points, and Tyson Chandler had 14 points
and 17 rebounds. It was the third blowout loss already this season for Chicago.
The Bulls lost to Washington at home by 25 in their opener and got beat at
Milwaukee by 30 on Saturday.
Chicago (1-3) was never in this game as the Rockets got off to a quick start,
taking a 16-5 lead on Jim Jackson's jumper, which ignited the first set of boos
from the United Center crowd.
The Bulls had a number of defensive lapses in the first half. Houston
extended its lead to 55-35 at the half when Tyson Chandler bit on a Scott
Padgett's pump-fake and drove to the basket for an easy dunk.
Jalen Rose missed a short jumper with 4:30 left, which triggered a loud
chorus of boos. Rose was 2-of-9 with five points.
Bostjan Nachbar hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Houston. He closed out the
third quarter with a 3 and started the fourth with another to give Houston a
80-48 lead, tying for its largest lead.
Nachbar was 4-for-4 from 3-point range and finished with 12 points.
Francis scored 13 points in the first half on 6-of-8 shooting. Mobley had 12
and Yao had 10. The Bulls shot just 24 percent in the first
half.
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