Butler busts out for 52 in Bulls' 118-111 win
CHICAGO -- Jimmy Butler had 52 points, 12 rebounds and six assists as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Charlotte Hornets 118-111 on Monday night at the United Center.
Doug McDermott, starting in place of injured guard Dwyane Wade, scored 11 points for the Bulls (17-18), who also got 12 points off the bench by Nikola Mirotic. Michael Carter-Williams, starting in place of benched point guard Rajon Rondo, had 10 points.
The Bulls won for just the fourth time in their last 12 games and snapped a two-game losing streak.
Kemba Walker led Charlotte (19-16) with 34 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 19 points by Nicolas Batum. Jeremy Lamb (15 points) and Spencer Hawes (10 points) reached double figures for the Hornets.
Butler, who was 15 of 24 from the field and 21 of 22 from the free throw line, took over in the final minutes when the Bulls created some distance from the Hornets.
Butler scored eight straight points and split two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to give Chicago a 112-106 lead. Butler then capped the scoring with two free throws with 7.1 seconds remaining for the Bulls, who outscored the Hornets 36-26 in the final 12 minutes.
Butler's 3-point play with four minutes remaining tied the score at 100. A Butler offensive rebound and basket gave Chicago a 103-102 lead.
Carter-Williams then responded to a Marvin Williams basket, which put the Bulls back on top after the Hornets, who had been surging before losing to defending NBA champion Cleveland on Saturday night, rode some early third-quarter momentum to take the lead.
Paced by Walker, Charlotte used an 8-1 run to start the second half to eventually build an eight-point lead before the Bulls made their late surge in the fourth quarter.
Chicago led 58-57 at halftime behind Butler, who had 20 points, had seven rebounds and five assists in the first half.
NOTES: The Hornets placed C Cody Zeller in concussion protocol on Monday. The team said in a statement that Zeller was struck by an elbow in Saturday's loss to Cleveland. There is no timetable for his return. Roy Hibbert, who was the starting center earlier this season, replace Zeller on Monday night. Zeller is averaging 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds. ... G Marco Belinelli (ankle) did not play. ... Bulls G Dwyane Wade missed Monday's game with swelling in his left knee after experiencing soreness following the second game of a back-to-back. Coach Fred Hoiberg hopes to get Wade back on Wednesday at Cleveland. ... Bulls G Rajon Rondo was out of Hoiberg's rotation for the second straight game. Michael Carter-Williams started for Rondo. Jerian Grant picked up reserve minutes. Hoiberg said at Monday's shootaround that he would consider using Rondo in a reserve role but hasn't discussed that option with Rondo.