Houston at Chicago

Chicago against Houston: a battle of an uptempo team against an all-defensive one. Houston loves to run-and-gun, but they are bad defensively allowing 46% shooting by opponents (25th in the NBA) and surrendering 103.4 ppg (29th).  Defense is how you win on the road and note that the uptempo Rockets are 11-5 at home, 3-7 on the road. Chicago has used its fierce rebounding and tenacious defense to survive the loss of Derek Rose by quietly being the No. 4 seed in the East, allowing 91 ppg (third best). They've had two full days off to rest after a bad loss at Atlanta, but get to come home and regroup. The previous two games the Bulls won at New York as a +6.5 dog and smoked Boston on this court, 100-89. They've won three of their last four home games playing tough teams: Knicks, Clippers, Celtics, Nets. Houston's game is shooting the three-pointer, but the Bulls are No. 2 in the NBA at defending the three-pointer allowing .326% shooting. Chicago will own the glass with hard working Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer against the finesse Rockets. Since last season, Chicago is 23-5 straight-up following a loss. Take the Bulls on the Money-Line.