The beginning had all the makings of a déjà vu.
Advertisement
The Bulls made 13 of 18 shots and equaled a season high for points in the first quarter with 31, including 10 from Butler. Quickly, they found themselves in a 17-point hole.
Newcomer Mario Chalmers scored 16 of his season-high 29 points in the fourth quarter Monday night and the Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 122-114 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On one hand, Phoenix dove on the floor and pounded the offensive glass to fight back.
“They are a good team”. Many might not be able to explain why the Bulls are here.
Westbrook shot 14-of-25 from the field to go along with eight assists and nine rebounds.
Jimmy Butler didn’t drive the team bus to the arena Wednesday in Phoenix. It was one of several breakdowns early for Phoenix, but that was only part of getting Butler cranked up enough to hit several contested shots late that put Phoenix away.
Bulls and Suns fans may not get these teams. The two vets complement each other’s games, and genuinely enjoy playing together.
“We go in there, do what we’re supposed to do, play hard, guard, make a few shots here and there and hopefully they’re not undefeated after they play us”, Butler said. The nod to Hoiberg shouldn’t go unnoticed. Brooks is a scoring point guard who fit well in Tom Thibodeau’s scheme, but doesn’t always push the ball up-court and look for open shooters in transition.
Forward Markieff Morris was back in starting lineup for Phoenix after missing the past two games with a left knee sprain. “They don’t need any extra confidence”, Hornacek said. So, as soon as veteran Kirk Hinrich was ready to return from a toe injury, Hoiberg elevated Hinrich to the number one point guard back-up behind Derrick Rose.
It was an unlikely and perhaps unexpected start to the Western Conference road trip with Derrick Rose out with an ankle injury, Aaron Brooks going out with a hamstring strain and the high flying Suns with the fastest pace of play in the National Basketball Association coming in with three straight wins. Chicago, meanwhile, might benefit by allowing the distraction of Rose’s health to take a backseat to the rise of Butler.
Bulls: Rose is day to day, Hoiberg said before the game. After a stellar freshman year that saw him lead his team to the National Championship game, he made a decision to declare for the NBA draft. He did it all for us in that fourth. It was nearly like his energy level went up as the game went on. I don’t think you have to say too much. This, after Phoenix recently missed out on playing the Kings with DeMarcus Cousins, the Lakers with Kobe Bryant, and the Clippers with Chris Paul.
It didn’t take Hoiberg long to realize he had to balance out his rotation to get a mix of offensive and defensive oriented players among his starters and 2nd unit. Rose’s ankle is still sore and he’s not expected to do much in practice on Thursday beyond testing out the ankle with running and making cuts.
Advertisement
The Nuggets stayed within shouting distance early in the fourth quarter as Kenneth Faried hit for two baskets and a free throw and Jameer Nelson added a driving jumper.
