The Houston Rockets will host the Chicago Bulls at Toyota Center on Thursday.

The Rockets (33-35) are undoubtedly trending in the right direction in recent weeks, and there’s an argument to say they’ve been one of the best teams in the Western Conference since the All-Star break. Houston has been on an absolute tear in recent weeks and has won six in a row while topping its rivals in eight of its last nine contests. The Rockets are coming off a 137-114 win over the Washington Wizards the last time out, and the team has recorded three of their last six wins by a double-digit margin. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that the Rockets have gotten hotter and hotter without Alperen Sengun, and Houston should be even better once the star big man returns. After all, Sengun is leading the Rockets in both points (21.1) and rebounds (9.3) per game.

Cam Whitmore (knee) and Alperen Sengun (ankle) are out. Tari Eason (lower leg) and Steven Adams (knee) are out for the rest of the season.

The Bulls (34-35) are sitting just one game below the .500 mark, and if the season ended today, they’d play in the Play-In Tournament. That’s impressive in its own right, as the Bulls have lost their star scorer, Zach LaVine, due to a season-ending foot injury, while Lonzo Ball and Patrick Williams will also miss the test of the campaign. However, Coby White has stepped his game up, Ayo Dosunmu is riding one of the most productive stretches of his career, and DeMar DeRozan is carrying the team. This means the Bulls have won three of their last four contests, including a 110-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Chicago needs to play better on the road, however, as the Bulls own a 16-18 mark away from home.

Alex Caruso (ankle) and Coby White (hip) are game-time calls Thursday. Julian Phillips (foot) is out. LaVine (foot), Williams (foot) and Ball (knee) are out for the season.