With 40 points in the second half to lead the Bulls’ 115-113 comeback victory against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Butler eclipsed Jordan’s record of 39, something that he didn’t even know until after the game.
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But Butler _ who set a franchise record 40 second-half points _ was unstoppable down the stretch, and when he drilled a three in DeRozan’s face with two-and-a-half minutes to play, it pulled the Bulls to within two points.
Butler had just two points after needing stitches to close a gash in his lip in the second quarter, but he erupted in the second half.
Center Pau Gasol added 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls (20-12) with forward Nikola Mirotic scoring 17 points.
Toronto went on a 9-2 run midway through the second capped by a DeRozan driving layup that gave the home team a nine-point lead.
Butler was sensational on the offensive end, adding five assists to his 42 points, but he was equally strong on the defensive end, proving he is one of the best all-around guards in the National Basketball Association.
“I was mad, but I just came out and was aggressive after that”, he said.
Heading into the locker room at halftime with only two points, Butler was visibly upset. DeRozan’s lone contest failing to reach 20 points in the last dozen was at Chicago on Monday, when he was limited to 19 points in 36 minutes.BUZZER BEATERS1. It wasn’t in the playbook when he called out Hoiberg for not coaching them hard enough, but Butler just continues evolving as a team player.
Chicago played without Derrick Rose, who missed his second consecutive game due to right hamstring tendinitis.
The team as a whole has been better without Rose, being outscored by 0.9 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor while outscoring opponents by 5.3 points per 100 with Rose on the bench.
The Raptors must be wondering what they have to do to beat the Bulls.
Carmelo Anthony scored 20 as NY lost for a fifth time in six outings.
Jose Juan Barea, who averaged 22.3 points in his previous four games, was held in check in his return to his hometown. The Raptors haven’t beaten the Bulls since December 31, 2013. Mirotic has struggled badly but scored 11 first-quarter points at the position Friday. It was his second double-double in a two-week span after playing in just four of Chicago’s first 24 games. He suffered the injury during Saturday’s win over the Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, the Raptors will be on the road in their next five games, including match-ups against East’s best Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
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The Chicago Bulls have been heating up on the court in their past couple of games.
