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The Chicago Bulls were slated to take on the Central Division leading Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, but the game was postponed due to the nasty winter weather. Chicago was tied with the Pacers for the division lead before losing to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday at the United Center.
The Rockets handed the Bulls a 120-97 Christmas day blowout in what was the Bulls worst defensive performance of the season. Chicago let Houston shoot 56.1 percent from the field and was outrebounded 45-31. All five Rockets starters scored double figures as former Bull Omer Asik outplayed Joakim Noah, scoring 20 points and grabbing 18 rebounds.
In other Christmas action, the Celtics dismantled the Nets 93-76, the Lakers edged out the Knicks 100-94, the Heat defeated the Thunder 103-97, and the Clippers kept rolling against the Nuggets 112-100.
On Wednesday, the rest of the Central Division was in action as the Bulls were forced to sit due to weather. The Bucks defeated the Nets 108-93 and moved into a tie with the Bulls for second in the division at 15-12. The Pistons lost a hard fought game to the Hawks 126-119 in overtime and the Cavaliers topped the Wizards 87-84 in a battle of the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference.