Nuggets 115, Bulls 110
DENVER -- Forward Danilo Gallinari scored 33 points, including a go-ahead jumper in the final minute, and the Denver Nuggets rallied from 18 down to beat the Chicago Bulls 115-110 Friday night.
Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay scored 22, and forward Kenneth Faried had a key put-back among his 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Guard Derrick Rose had 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but the Bulls couldn't overcome the loss of swingman Jimmy Butler to a left knee sprain.
The Bulls were already playing without forward Pau Gasol (sore left hand) when Butler went down with 1:05 left in the second quarter. He landed awkwardly after he was fouled by Nuggets center Joffrey Lauvergne on a drive to the basket. Butler lay on the floor while be attended to by the Nuggets' team doctor.
Butler initially refused to be put in the wheelchair that was brought out for him, as he wanted to shoot his free throws. He made one of two, and then teammate Aaron Brooks helped him get into the wheelchair. Butler had his knee bandaged after having it X-rayed.
Butler, who was a game-time decision because of left knee tendinitis, had 19 points, five assists in two rebounds before leaving the game.
Without Butler and Gasol, the Bulls built an 87-69 lead late in the third quarter before Denver came back.
Forwards Will Barton had seven quick points and Nikola Jokic hit two 3-pointers to get Denver within 100-95 with 5:58 left.
Barton finished with 18 points, and Jokic had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The lead was one after Mudiay's 3-pointer, and Faried tied it at 105 with a free throw with 2:56 left.
Gallinari's baseline jumper with 51.2 seconds left gave Denver a 109-108 lead, its first since the second quarter. Rose missed a jumper at the other end, Mudiay was fouled, and he hit the first of two free throws.
Faried slid in the lane to tip in Mudiay's miss and make it 112-108.
Forward Taj Gibson scored 18 for Chicago, and forward Doug McDermott had 15 off the bench.
NOTES: Bulls F Pau Gasol might also miss the Saturday game at Minnesota with the hand injury that kept him out Friday. Gasol has missed only three games this season, and coach Fred Hoiberg said he is a quick healer. "He's actually made quite a bit of progress," Hoiberg said. ... Nuggets F Darrell Arthur hopes to play Sunday at New York after sitting Friday with a left quad injury. He has been bothered by the injury at different points of the season. ... Chicago F Mike Dunleavy (back) did not play but is expected to make his season debut Saturday against the Timberwolves. ... Nuggets G Jameer Nelson (sore left wrist) missed his third consecutive game.