Tre Jones posted a new career-high during the Chicago Bulls’ 119-113 road loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night at Toyota Center, contributing 34 points, seven assists, and five three-pointers on 11-for-12 shooting from the field and 7-for-8 shooting from the free throw line.
Jones, one of the rare pass-first guards in the NBA today, said after the game that he felt the need to assert himself on the offensive end because they were missing several key players, including Coby White (calf), Zach Collins (toe), and Josh Giddey (hamstring).
“My shot felt good,” Jones told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “(I) obviously shot more than I usually do. Just trying to take what the defense gave me. (We’ll) just continue to come together as a group. We’re not going to be whole for a little bit. We kind of realize that. It’s a next-man-up mentality.”
Matas Buzelis, Jalen Smith, Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Huerter added 19, 14, 14, and 11 points in the losing effort. The Chicago Bulls fell to 18-21 after losing four of their last five.
Chicago Bulls News: Kevin Huerter opens up on his current role
Kevin Huerter has gone in and out of the Chicago Bulls’ starting lineup this season due to circumstances beyond his control. According to the former 19th overall pick, he doesn’t mind whether he starts or not, as long as he helps the team.
“I think I’ve been really effective at times for this team coming off the bench,” Huerter said. “To be honest, my minutes and my role don’t change, whether I’m coming off the bench or starting, and that’s not the same for every team or every coach across the NBA.”
“The way that we sub and play on this team, the lineups we use, it doesn’t matter that much,” he ended.
