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Wednesday, Feb. 28 8:30pm ET
Good first quarter all Bulls could muster

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

CHICAGO (AP) -- Rudy Tomjanovich's fear of the hapless Chicago Bulls was warranted for a little more than a quarter.

Steve Francis scored 21 points and Hakeem Olajuwon added 17 as the Houston Rockets overcame an early 12-point deficit to beat Chicago 95-78 Wednesday night.

"This is one of those games that you're really concerned about as a coach," Tomjanovich said.

Reserve Kenny Thomas had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who have won five of six and finished February 9-4.

Elton Brand scored 21 points to lead the Bulls, who have lost five of six.

Bryce Drew hit three 3-pointers and dished out four assists in the first quarter as the Bulls broke out to a 29-19 lead.

"We started out badly, but sometimes that's good," Tomjanovich said. "It got our attention."

Chicago led by as many 12 before Houston rallied. The Rockets went on a 15-2 run, aided by six quick points from Thomas and a 3-pointer by Walt Williams to grab a 34-33 lead midway through the second quarter.

"We had basically the same pattern that happened the other night," said Chicago coach Tim Floyd, whose team blew a 10-point lead Monday against Golden State. "Our guys started out well, but we went to our bench and lost the margin there."

Houston built its lead to 59-49 on Olajuwon's jumper with 6:12 left in the third. The Bulls closed to five points several times, but the Rockets held them at bay.

Early in the fourth quarter, Kelvin Cato clanked a dunk off the back of the rim, the ball going straight up about 20 feet in the air and coming down right through the net for two points.

"I hope they don't show it on the highlight shows," Cato said.

The Rockets, who shot 51 percent from the field, are 12-0 when making over 50 percent as a team.

Game notes
The Bulls placed guard Khalid El-Amin on the injury list with a sore knee and activated guard A.J. Guyton, who missed 40 games with a right knee sprain. ... Chicago's Ron Mercer, who has missed five of six games, said he will test his ailing left ankle in practice Thursday. ... The Rockets placed forward Matt Bullard on the injured list with a stress fracture in his back. Filling the roster spot is guard Sean Colson, signed to a 10-day contract. ... Maurice Taylor has tendinitis in both feet and did not play in the second half.

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RECAPS
Indiana 99
Milwaukee 86

Toronto 95
Atlanta 88

Charlotte 91
New Jersey 88

Minnesota 111
Detroit 100

Philadelphia 79
Miami 69

Houston 95
Chicago 78

Orlando 97
Phoenix 91

Utah 101
Vancouver 83

Denver 107
LA Lakers 101

Sacramento 122
Golden State 101


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