Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan admit the Chicago Bulls underestimated the Houston Rockets

Instead of extending their win streak to four games, the Bulls fell to one of the worst teams in the NBA.

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Just as it seemed that the Chicago Bulls found some consistency, they fell to the worst-seeded team in the Western Conference. How they did it perfectly sums up their up-and-down start to the season.

Streak-ending loss

After falling behind by as many as 14 in the first quarter, the Bulls put on a clinic in the second to turn an 11-point deficit into a one-point halftime lead.

Now, that's usually a lock for the Bulls to add another one to the win column—they entered yesterday's matchup with an 8-0 record in games where they led at halftime. However, the Houston Rockets' huge third-quarter run secured them a 133-118 win that snapped Chicago's three-game winning streak and dropped their record to 14-19.

“That’s unacceptable,” DeMar DeRozan said of the Bulls' slow start to the game. “That just comes with defensive effort, playing with toughness and a sense of urgency.”

DeRozan led his team with 31 points and nine assists on 11-of-19 from the field. Zach LaVine added 22, and Coby White had 14 off the bench. The Rockets big three of Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, and Alperen Şengün combined for 85 points on 33-of-49 shooting.

Lack of urgency

The Bulls are now 11-11 against teams currently at or above .500. However, they are 3-8 against teams below .500.

Despite their underachieving start to the season, the Bulls were able to pile up wins against legitimate title contenders—they beat the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Boston Celtics twice. Unfortunately, those proved to be exceptions rather than the rule, as Chicago currently sits 11th in the East following a shocking loss to one of the worst teams in the NBA.

The lack of urgency is something that's shadowed the team 33 games into the season. It's also something that, according to LaVine and DeRozan, cost them the win last night.

"(We) came out a little bit lackadaisical, probably," LaVine said. "Taking a team for granted, and you can't do that in the NBA."

"We can’t just expect to win because it’s the Rockets and it’s a bunch of young guys over there," DeRozan added, admitting that the team shows up to big games, but struggles to do so against "easier" opponents.

Next up for Chicago is a home game against the Bucks. Judging by their 22-11 record, the Bulls will bring their A-game for this one.