Butler helps keep Bulls unbeaten against Nets
NEW YORK -- Jimmy Butler scored 22 points as the Chicago Bulls started quickly and remained unbeaten by rolling to a 118-88 rout of the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
Dwyane Wade was the only Bulls starter to play in the fourth quarter and contributed 12 points, including his fifth 3-pointer of the season -- two shy of his total from last season.
He finished off the blowout with a nifty crossover on Bojan Bogdanovic, resulting in a 3-point play with 9:48 left, giving the Bulls (3-0) a 98-73 lead. By garbage time, the 12-time All-Star was getting loud ovations from some fans.
Reserve Nikola Mirotic added 16 points, including a nifty leaner with 7:45 remaining to get the Bulls to the 100-point mark for the third straight game. He also hit four of Chicago's 11 3-pointers and had 10 rebounds.
Taj Gibson added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago, which scored 38 points in the first quarter and led for the final 45:05.
Bogdanovic scored 15 points and Jeremy Lin added 14 for the Nets, whose first two losses were decided by a combined seven points. Brook Lopez returned after resting and had 13 points in 22 minutes.
Chicago beat the Nets for the fourth straight time and shot 51 percent. Brooklyn shot 34 percent and was 5 of 31 from 3-point range.
Butler, Gibson and Wade combined for 22 points on 11 of 15 shooting as the Bulls sprinted to a 38-20 lead through the first quarter. The Bulls took the lead for good on a basket by Gibson about three minutes in and their opening quarter was highlighted by one sequence with about five and a half minutes left.
Following a missed hook shot by Justin Hamilton, Gibson grabbed the rebound and quickly passed to Rajon Rondo. Rondo fed Wade, who hoisted an alley-oop pass to Butler, who completed the sequence with a dunk for a 22-11 lead.
Chicago's lead surged to 20 points and beyond as the Bulls made five 3-pointers and took a 65-44 lead into the break.
One of few highlights for the Nets occurred early in the third when Lopez blocked Wade's layup attempt near the baseline. But typical of how the night went for both teams, Chicago grabbed the rebound and Butler knocked down two free throws for a 71-47 lead.
The Nets briefly cut the lead under 20 with 8:01 left in the third when Lopez wrestled possession away from Wade and converted a layup, forcing Chicago to call timeout.
A few minutes later, Rondo capped a 10-2 run with a nifty reverse layup, giving the Bulls an 81-55 lead and Chicago carried a 93-66 lead into the fourth.
NOTES: Brooklyn G Randy Foye (strained right hamstring) missed his fourth straight game. Foye did some shooting work off to the side during the morning shootaround but has yet to start running. ... Nets G Greivis Vazquez (sore right ankle) sat out after getting hurt Saturday in Milwaukee. Last year he had surgery on the same ankle. ... Monday marked the 14th meeting between twin centers Robin Lopez of Chicago and Brooklyn's Brook Lopez. When talking about Robin Lopez pregame, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg praised his ability to set "great screens" and roll to the rim. ... Knicks Gs Jerian Grant and R.J, Hunter were inactive. Neither has appeared in a game for Chicago so far this season.