Butler's return propels Bulls over Pelicans
CHICAGO -- Jimmy Butler scored 28 points and Dwyane Wade had 17 of his 22 in the fourth quarter as the Chicago Bulls snapped a three-game losing streak with a 107-99 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday at the United Center.
Taj Gibson added 15 points and 16 rebounds and Michael Carter-Williams had 11 points for the Bulls (20-21), who had a 21-6 edge on second-chance points and outrebounded the Pelicans 63-42.
Anthony Davis scored a game-high 36 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead New Orleans (16-25), which got 16 points from E'Twaun Moore and 14 from Tyreke Evans. Solomon Hill also had 10 points for the Pelicans.
New Orleans got to within 79-78 early in the fourth quarter after Wade was called for a flagrant foul while trying to break his fall after going for a Terrence Jones pump fake. But Wade, who scored Chicago's first eight points of the fourth quarter after entering the final frame 2-for-13 from the field, hit an 18-foot jump shot to give the Bulls an 85-80 lead.
Chicago opened up a 15-point lead in the third quarter before the Pelicans used a 9-0 scoring run to get within 66-60. But the Bulls quickly turned the momentum again and used a Gibson basket to push the lead back to 11.
Davis again sparked New Orleans, which closed to back within six by the end of the third quarter before the Pelicans got to within a point early in the fourth.
The Bulls led 55-45 at the half behind Butler, who hit on 6 of his 11 first-half field-goal attempts for 19 points. Butler played for the first time since missing back-to-back games with the flu.
Chicago was 6-of-10 from 3-point range, again paced by Butler, who connected on all three of his 3-point attempts in the first half.
NOTES: Pelicans C Anthony Davis returned Saturday after missing one game a hip injury he sustained Monday against the New York Knicks. Asked if Davis is 100 percent, coach Alvin Gentry replied, "I don't think you're ever 100 percent. It's one of those deals. It's an injury, you go out and play with it and you do the best you can." ... Bulls F Nikola Mirotic missed his second straight game due to illness and will not play Sunday against Memphis. Mirotic is one of three players to deal with a flu bug coach Fred Hoiberg called "nasty" along with F/SG Jimmy Butler and G Denzel Valentine. Butler returned Saturday after missing two games, but dropped 10 pounds after being sick since Monday. Valentine was available Saturday but is still weak, Hoiberg said. ... SG Dwyane Wade will not travel to Memphis for Sunday's game due to the quick turnaround after playing Saturday.