Butler fuels spirited effort by Bulls in win over Magic
CHICAGO -- Coming off a lethargic loss, the Chicago Bulls emphatically ended their three-game losing streak with a 112-80 victory against the Orlando Magic on Monday night at the United Center.
After losing 111-94 at the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, the Bulls (4-3) entered this game looking for more energy from start to finish. That's exactly the formula they used to snap the three-game winning streak of the Magic (3-4).
Jimmy Butler led the charge for the Bulls, who broke the game open by outscoring Orlando 27-11 in the third quarter. Butler had nine points and three steals in the third and finished with a game-high 20 points to go with seven assists, four steals and five rebounds.
Two other starters reached double-figure scoring for Chicago, which won its first three games before losing three straight.
Taj Gibson had a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds), and Dwyane Wade had 16 points after posting just four in the loss to the Pacers. Doug McDermott (11 points) and Isaiah Canaan (10 points) added solid games off the bench.
Aaron Gordon (15 points), Evan Fournier (13 points) and Nikola Vucevic (11 points) led Orlando.
Each team got off to a hot start, but the Bulls surged to a 37-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. They outscored the Magic 15-0 over the final four minutes, led by Canaan's five points, two jumpers from Wade, three points from Butler and Nikola Mirotic's long 3-pointer that beat the buzzer.
It became a 17-0 run to start the second, before the Magic responded with their first basket in a 5:50 span. Orlando cut the Bulls' lead to single digits, but Chicago held a 61-52 lead at halftime.
The Bulls turned it up in the third, but the Magic went cold. Chicago built a 76-58 lead with 15-6 run in the first 6:05 of the quarter and then outscored Orlando 12-5 the rest of the way to lead 88-63 starting the fourth.
NOTES: Magic C Nikola Vucevic started Monday despite being listed as questionable due to a right shoulder strain. ... Orlando G Jodie Meeks missed his seventh game with a fractured fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. Meeks, who is listed day-to-day, has been out since Oct. 26. ... Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg went into the game with the intent of playing F Bobby Portis more. Portis scored 16 points in Chicago's 111-94 loss Saturday at the Indiana Pacers. "I thought Bobby was one of the bright spots in our game the other night," Hoiberg said. "He brought the energy." ... Hoiberg said G Dwyane Wade would not sit out Wednesday at the Atlanta Hawks to rest up for his first trip back to Miami on Thursday to play the Heat. ... Bulls reserve PG Michael Carter-Williams missed his fourth game because of a left knee bone bruise and left wrist sprain.