But they lost to Jimmy Butler and the Bulls 115-113 anyway.
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Last season, Butler became an All-Star for the first time in his career and was selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team for the second straight season, and he was also awarded the Most Improved Player award. They rank just two spots ahead of the 19-12 Chicago Bulls, in second place.
“I don’t want to be compared to [Jordan]; just look at what he’s done for the game”, said Butler, fittingly wearing an Air Jordan sweatshirt.
“We had some shots that didn’t go in to start the fourth quarter and I thought we got discouraged and we let our energy get turned around the other way and it just kind of snowballed from there”, Knicks coach Derek Fisher said. “He made a lot of big shots “¦ I’m just proud of him, happy for him, and happy that the team won and reacted the way we did and kept fighting”.
Butler poured in 21 points in the third, including a pullup jumper with 32 seconds left in the frame that pulled the Bulls to within six points with one quarter left. Butler’s 42 points came on 15-of-23 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers on three attempts.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Lou Williams scored a season-high 30 points, and the Lakers sent Phoenix to its ninth straight loss. Afflalo was 14 for 17 from the field and 7 for 8 from three-point range, hitting his first seven attempts.
Guard John Wall top scored with 24 points and had 13 assists, finishing the match with his eighth straight double-double. He had ten points and did his best to contain Butler, who got hot while Carroll Saturday By the time Carroll got back into the game, it was too late.
Butler was criticised for the statements at the time, though it has clearly lit a spark under the Bulls who have won their last three games. Along with increasing his scoring average by more than 10 points per game, Butler’s shooting percentage increases from 44 percent with Rose to 52.5 percent without Rose.
The Raptors were looking for payback, winless in their previous six games against the Bulls, including a 104-97 defeat just six nights earlier in Chicago.
NETS: Brooklyn point guard Jarrett Jack has a torn ACL in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season.
Chicago played without Derrick Rose, who missed his second consecutive game due to right hamstring tendinitis.
Forward Luis Scola and point guard Kyle Lowry each scored 22 points for Toronto (21-14).
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CJ McCollum’s 25 points paced the Portland Trail Blazers in a 112-16 win over the Denver Nuggets.
