The Houston Rockets suffered their 28th loss of the season, a 132-124 setback to the Chicago Bulls, as head coach Ime Udoka launched a scathing critique of his team’s preparation and effort, calling them ‘not prepared to play.’ Udoka was ejected after arguing with officials, adding to the team’s malaise. With a 6-6 record in the last 12 games, the Rockets’ season is in jeopardy.
The Houston Rockets are in crisis. After a 132-124 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night—their 28th defeat of the 2025-26 season—head coach Ime Udoka delivered a blistering postgame rant, accusing his players of being unprepared and disrespecting the game. The loss drops the Rockets to 6-6 over their last 12 games, leaving them well outside the Western Conference playoff picture.
Udoka’s tirade was sparked by a disastrous first quarter in which the Bulls scored 41 points. “Poor start, disrespected the game, not prepared from the get-go. Just non-aggressive following them around, watching them shoot,” Udoka told reporters. “They have nothing to lose, they’re gonna fire away, and they gave up 41 points in that first quarter. It’s disappointing, it’s one quarter that killed us and [we] weren’t prepared to play at all.”
Despite the loss, individual performances offered a glimmer of hope. Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, adding two steals and two blocks. Kevin Durant poured in 40 points on 65.2% shooting. Yet, their efforts were not enough to overcome the early deficit.
The game statistics underscore Houston’s defensive collapse:
- Alperen Sengun: 33 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
- Kevin Durant: 40 points on 65.2% shooting
- First quarter points allowed: 41
The official NBA box score confirms these numbers, highlighting the Bulls’ dominance in the opening period.
Udoka’s frustration extended beyond his team’s performance to the officiating. Late in the game, with the Bulls up 129-124 and 9.1 seconds remaining, Kevin Durant was called for an offensive foul. Udoka immediately confronted the referees, earning his second technical foul and an ejection. Earlier, he had received a technical for disputing a flagrant foul called on Amen Thompson for contact with Chicago’s Collin Sexton.
The coach did not hold back in his assessment of the referees. “Flagrant was soft as hell it’s nothing and then the techs were soft too. I’m not about to complain about a soft crew. It is what it is,” Udoka posted on social media.
This is not the first time Udoka has faced disciplinary action for his remarks. In December 2025, he was fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing officials after an overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. The recurrence of such incidents highlights the increasing scrutiny on the coach as the Rockets’ season spirals.
As reported by NBA.com, the fine stemmed from Udoka’s postgame comments following the December 15 game, a 128-125 defeat.
So why does this loss—and Udoka’s reaction—matter? The Rockets were a preseason darling, expected to make a jump in the Western Conference. Instead, they find themselves near the bottom of the play-in race. The first-quarter defensive lapses have become a recurring theme, and Udoka’s public dressing-down of his players may either galvanize the team or deepen the rift. His ejection was the second of the season, and the league’s patience with coach-official spats appears to be wearing thin.
From a fan perspective, the frustration is boiling over. Social media is rife with calls to trade Durant—still averaging 28 points per game—for assets that could accelerate a rebuild. Others question whether Sengun’s triple-double was a sign of growth or an empty stat in a losing effort. The “what-if” scenarios about a mid-season coaching change are gaining traction.
The Rockets’ next games are crucial. They face a tough schedule in the final weeks of the season, and each loss inches them closer to a lottery-bound finish. For Udoka, the challenge is to restore discipline and focus without further alienating his roster. For the players, it’s about responding to their coach’s criticism with actions, not words.
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